steal

Universal Words verb, noun verb (stole ) 1 ~ (sth) (from sb/sth) to take sth from a person, shop/store, etc. without permission and without intending to return it or pay for it: [V] We found out he'd been stealing from us for years. * I'll report you to the police if I catch you stealing again. * [VN] My wallet was stolen. * I had my wallet stolen. * Thieves stole jewellery worth over ｣10000. * It's a crime to handle stolen goods. * (figurative) to steal sb's ideas 2 [V+adv./prep.] to move secretly and quietly so that other people do not notice you: She stole out of the room so as not to wake the baby. * (figurative) A chill stole over her body. 3 [VN] (in baseball) to run to the next BASE before another player from your team hits the ball, so that you are closer to scoring: He tried to steal second base but was out. IDIOMS steal a glance / look (at sb/sth) (written) to look at sb/sth quickly so that nobody sees you doing it steal sb's heart (literary) to make sb fall in love with you steal a kiss (from sb) (literary) to kiss sb suddenly or secretly steal a march (on sb) [nopassive] (written) to gain an advantage over sb by doing sth before them: The company is looking at ways to steal a march on its European competitors. steal the show [nopassive] to attract more attention and praise than other people in a particular situation: As always, the children stole the show. * British bands stole the show at this year's awards. steal sb's thunder to get the attention, success, etc. that sb else was expecting, usually by saying or doing what they had intended to say or do noun (AmE) (in baseball) the act of running to another BASE while the PITCHER is throwing the ball IDIOMS be a steal (especially AmE) to be for sale at an unexpectedly low price: This suit is a steal at $80. ______________________________ WHICHWORD? (table)steal / rob / burgle / thief / robber / burglar Verbs Object of verb: bank, public building - Thieves robbed a bank last night. * _T_h_i_e_v_e_s_ _s_t_o_l_e_ _a_ _b_a_n_k_ _l_a_s_t_ _n_i_g_h_t. * _T_h_i_e_v_e_s_ _b_u_r_g_l_e_d_ _a_ _b_a_n_k_ _l_a_s_t_ _n_i_g_h_t. money, property - My wallet was stolen. * _M_y_ _w_a_l_l_e_t_ _w_a_s_ _r_o_b_b_e_d. * _M_y_ _w_a_l_l_e_t_ _w_a_s_ _b_u_r_g_l_e_d. person - I've been robbed. * I've been burgled (= my house). * _I_'_v_e_ _b_e_e_n_ _s_t_o_l_e_n.f28 office, house, etc. - Our house was burgled. * _O_u_r_ _h_o_u_s_e_ _w_a_s_ _s_t_o_l_e_n. * _O_u_r_ _h_o_u_s_e_ _w_a_s_ _r_o_b_b_e_d. Steal. You can also steal from somebody: He had been stealing from his employer for years. Rob. You can also be robbed of something: She was robbed of all her money and clothes. Burgle. This is BrE. AmE is burglarize. Look also at the verb MUG. Nouns A thief is a person who steals things, especially secretly and without using violence. A burglar is a person who gets into a house, office, etc., especially by force, in order to steal things. A robber is a person who steals property from a person or public place, especially using violence. Look also at MUGGER. ______________________________