Dropping poison in a drink. Serving food gone dangerously bad. Or, hiring hitmen to take out a foe.

Are those violent crimes?

The Supreme Court appeared unconvinced Tuesday by a New York crime family associate’s argument that his conviction in a foiled murder-for-hire plot does not qualify as a “crime of violence” because he used no physical force. However, the justices seemed open to ruling that some crimes committed through inaction cannot be deemed violent.

Salvatore Delligatti, a Genovese crime family associate also known as “Fat Sal,” was found guilty of charges including racketeering and attempted murder after plotting to kill a local “bully.” He hired members of the Crips street gang and provided them with a .38 revolver and getaway car, but police intervened before the plot was carried out.

Delligatti was also convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a “crime of violence,” which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five consecutive years in prison. He was sentenced to 25-year prison term in total.

Delligatti lawyer Allon Kedem argued Tuesday that a crime requiring death or bodily injury like murder, but committed through inaction,........

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