thief
B1Neutral; used in both formal and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person who steals something, typically secretly and without using force or violence.
Used metaphorically to describe someone or something that takes or uses something dishonestly or without permission, such as 'time thief' or 'a thief of joy'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies stealth and secrecy. Often distinguished from 'robber', who uses force or threat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Plural form 'thieves' is universal.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries strong negative connotations of dishonesty and criminality.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[thief] stole [object] from [victim/location][detective/police] caught the [thief]The [thief] broke into [location]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Set a thief to catch a thief”
- “Opportunity makes a thief”
- “Like a thief in the night”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in risk reports, e.g., 'The company was a victim of intellectual property theft.'
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, or legal studies discussions on property crime.
Everyday
Common in news reports and casual conversation about crime.
Technical
Used in legal contexts as a specific category of offender, though 'larcenist' is more precise.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was caught thieving from the till.
- They've been thieving lead from the church roof.
American English
- The kids were thieving candy from the store.
- He got arrested for thieving car radios.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, archaic) He acted thief-wise, waiting for the right moment.
American English
- (Rare, archaic) She moved thief-quick through the shadows.
adjective
British English
- She has a thief-like cunning about her.
- A thief-proof lock is recommended.
American English
- He made a thief-like move toward the wallet.
- The store installed thief-resistant packaging.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The thief took my phone.
- A thief stole her bag.
- He is not a thief.
- The police arrested the thief yesterday.
- Security cameras can help catch a thief.
- The clever thief entered through the window.
- The notorious art thief was finally brought to justice.
- She felt a profound sense of violation after the thief had been in her home.
- The legislation aims to impose harsher penalties on repeat thieves.
- The charismatic cat burglar was portrayed in the media more as a folk hero than a common thief.
- His argument was a thief of time, derailing the entire meeting with irrelevant details.
- The socio-economic factors contributing to youth becoming thieves were complex and multifaceted.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'thief' and 'teeth' – a thief might be sneaky and 'bite' into your possessions.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS A DISEASE / THIEF IS A PREDATOR (e.g., 'the thief prowled the streets').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'вор' for all contexts; 'thief' is more specific than the broad Russian 'вор'.
- Don't confuse with 'robber' (грабитель) which implies confrontation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'thiefs' (correct: 'thieves').
- Confusing 'thief' (steals secretly) with 'robber' (steals with force/threat).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core action of a 'thief'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A thief typically steals secretly without the victim's immediate knowledge (e.g., a pickpocket). A robber uses force, threat of force, or intimidation to take something directly from a victim (e.g., a mugger).
The correct plural is 'thieves'. The 'f' changes to 'v' before adding '-es', following a common English pattern (e.g., leaf/leaves, wolf/wolves).
Yes, though it is less common and often considered informal or archaic. The verb 'to thief' means to steal. The more common verb is simply 'to steal'.
Almost universally negative. The idiom 'set a thief to catch a thief' suggests using a person's specialized bad knowledge for a good purpose, but the word itself remains negative. Metaphorical uses like 'thief of time' are also negative.