Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Definition
An American police procedural drama television series (2001–2011), a spin-off of the Law & Order franchise, following NYPD Major Case Squad detectives who investigate high-profile crimes with a psychological focus on the perpetrator's intent.
A reference to the legal doctrine of 'mens rea' (guilty mind), highlighting criminal motivation, popularized by the show's tagline and investigative style.
Examples
After marathoning Law & Order: Criminal Intent, my cat now gets the side-eye for every suspicious meow.
He channeled his inner Goren from Law & Order: Criminal Intent, deducing the pizza thief's motive from crumb patterns.
In boardroom battles, she deploys Law & Order: Criminal Intent tactics—profiling rivals' coffee habits for leverage.
My fantasy football league devolved into Law & Order: Criminal Intent, with accusations of intent behind every bad trade.