the usual suspects

"The usual suspects" is a phrase often used to refer to a group of people who are frequently involved in or suspected of a particular activity, often illegal or shady. It suggests that these individuals are consistently associated with or involved in certain events or incidents, implying a predictable pattern of behavior. The phrase gained popularity in a broader sense through its use in the 1995 film "The Usual Suspects," where it specifically refers to a group of criminals.