CASE THE JOINT

v. phr. , slang 1. To study the layout of a place one wishes to burglarize. The hooded criminals carefully cased the joint before robbing the neighborhood bank. 2. To familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot as a matter of preliminary planning. "Hello Fred," he said. "Are you working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am merely casing the joint."