robbery
gb/ɹˈɑbɚi/ us/ɹˈɑbɚi/
B1
English
~ 7200
rablás, lehúzás
NOUN
B1
1
rablás
B1
Usage pattern:
to commit [a/armed/bank robbery] at [a place]
The police are investigating a robbery at the downtown jewelry store.
A rendőrség egy belvárosi ékszerüzletben történt rablás ügyében nyomoz.
He was arrested and charged with armed robbery after the late-night incident.
A késő esti eset után letartóztatták, és fegyveres rablással vádolták meg.
She still has nightmares about the robbery that happened outside her apartment.
There has been a rise in bank robbery cases in the city this year.
The convenience store installed cameras after a robbery last month.
Learner examples
The man went to prison for robbery.
A férfi rablásért került börtönbe.
There was a robbery at the small bank near my house.
Rablás történt a házam közelében lévő kis bankban.
She called the police to report a robbery.
He lost his wallet during a street robbery.
The news talked about a robbery at a hotel.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "robbery" with "theft" or "burglary". "Robbery" usually involves taking something directly from a person or a place using force or threats. "Theft" is more general and does not need force. "Burglary" is secretly entering a building to steal, and may happen when no one is there.
Meaning
crime of stealing with force
Collocations
armed robbery
|bank robbery
|commit a robbery
|victim of a robbery
|robbery suspect
|charged with robbery
Synonyms
theft (More general; any stealing, not necessarily involving force or threats.)
|
holdup (Especially American and informal; often used for a robbery where someone is threatened with a weapon.)
Antonyms
restitution (Refers to giving back or paying for what was taken, the opposite of unlawfully taking property.)
Themes
crime
|law
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The crime of taking money or things from a person or place, usually with force or by saying you will hurt someone.
The crime of taking money or property from a person or place, especially by using force, threats, or violence.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is (an) absolute robbery
Twenty dollars for a small bottle of water is robbery.
Húsz dollár egy kis üveg vízért: ez kész rablás.
Fans called the referee’s decision robbery after the clearly valid goal was disallowed.
A szurkolók rablásnak nevezték a bíró döntését, miután nem adta meg az egyértelműen szabályos gólt.
Paying extra fees for basic services feels like robbery to many customers.
Many people think those ticket prices are daylight robbery.
He joked that the rent increase was robbery and asked if the landlord was serious.
Learner examples
Ten dollars for one banana is robbery.
Egy banánért tíz dollárt kérni kész rablás.
The students said the exam result was robbery because they all did the work.
A diákok azt mondták, hogy a vizsgaeredmény rablás volt, mert mindannyian elvégezték a munkát.
She feels the hotel price is robbery for such a small room.
They think the new parking fees are robbery.
People online said the judge’s decision was robbery.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this figurative sense in serious crime contexts. Use this sense only when talking informally about prices, decisions, or results that feel extremely unfair, not about actual crimes where something is physically taken.
Meaning
extremely unfair situation or price
Collocations
absolute robbery
|felt like robbery
|it’s straight-up robbery
|this is robbery
|daylight robbery
Synonyms
rip-off (Informal; strongly suggests being charged far too much money or being cheated.)
Antonyms
bargain (Describes something that is very cheap or very good value, the opposite of feeling overcharged or cheated.)
Themes
emotions
|money
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
|business
|finance
Definition
A very unfair thing, especially when you pay too much money or lose something in a way that does not feel fair.
An extremely unfair situation, especially when a price, decision, or result feels like someone is taking something from you unjustly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
robbery
IPA
GB/ɹˈɑbɚi/
US/ɹˈɑbɚi/
Syllables & stress
rob - bery (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rob)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: robbery
- Plural: robberies, robbery
Word family
Expressions
armed robbery
1/ˈɑɹmd ɹˈɑbɚi/
fixed phrase
robbery using a weapon
Robbery where the robber has a gun, knife, or another weapon.
Examples
- He is serving ten years in prison for armed robbery.
- The store added security guards after an armed robbery last winter.
attempted robbery
1/ətˈɛmptɪd ɹˈɑbɚi/
fixed phrase
robbery that was only attempted
A situation where someone tries to do a robbery but does not finish it or does not succeed.
Examples
- He was arrested on charges of attempted robbery.
- The police are looking for witnesses to an attempted robbery outside the mall.
bank robbery
1/bˈæŋk ɹˈɑbɚi/
fixed phrase
robbery of a bank
Robbery where a bank is the place that is robbed.
Examples
- The movie is about a failed bank robbery.
- Police arrived within minutes of the bank robbery being reported.
be charged with robbery
1/bˈi t͡ʃˈɑɹd͡ʒd wˈɪθ ɹˈɑbɚi/
fixed phrase
officially accused of robbery
To be officially said by the police or a court that you did a robbery.
Examples
- He was charged with robbery after being identified by several witnesses.
- Two teenagers were charged with robbery following the incident at the gas station.
commit a robbery
1/kəmˈɪt ə ɹˈɑbɚi/
fixed phrase
carry out a robbery
To do a robbery; to rob someone or a place.
Examples
- The group planned to commit a robbery at the casino.
- He admitted he had committed a robbery when he was younger.
daylight robbery
1/dˈeɪlˌaɪt ɹˈɑbɚi/
idiom
informal
shockingly unfair high price
Used to say that a price or situation is very unfair, as if someone is stealing from you in a clear and open way.
Examples
- Twenty-five dollars for parking is daylight robbery.
- Many customers called the new service fees daylight robbery.
robbery suspect
1/ɹˈɑbɚi sˈʌspˌɛkt/
fixed phrase
person suspected of robbery
A person the police think may have done a robbery.
Examples
- Police released a photo of a robbery suspect caught on camera.
- The robbery suspect will appear in court tomorrow.
robbery with violence
1/ɹˈɑbɚi wˈɪθ vˈaɪələns/
fixed phrase
formal
robbery involving physical violence
Robbery where the robber hurts someone or uses physical force, not only threats.
Examples
- She was convicted of robbery with violence after injuring the cashier.
- The law gives a heavier sentence for robbery with violence.