steal
Take without permission
To take something that is not yours without asking or paying for it.
to steal [something] from [someone/somewhere]
- Someone broke into my house and stole my laptop.
- She was caught stealing clothes from the store.
- If you steal from your friends, they won't trust you again.
- The thief stole my phone while I was on the bus.
- He stole my bag.
- She stole a book from the shop.
- The boy stole money from his father.
- They stole a car at night.
Take non-physical thing unfairly
To take someone's chance, idea, or attention in a way that is not fair.
to steal [someone's idea/moment/attention]
- Her amazing performance stole the show.
- He accused them of stealing his idea.
- The loud music stole my attention from the speaker.
- She stole the show with her singing.
- He stole my idea for the project.
- The baby stole everyone's attention.
Very cheap bargain
Something you buy very cheaply compared to what it is worth.
- That vintage jacket was a steal at $20.
- The tickets were a real steal considering the band's popularity.
- I got this watch for half price—it was a steal.
- The shoes were a steal at ten dollars.
- This phone was a real steal.
- My new bike was a steal.
Move quietly and secretly
To move slowly and quietly so no one sees or hears you.
to steal [somewhere]
- He stole into the room while everyone slept.
- She stole away before anyone could stop her.
- The cat stole silently across the garden.
- He stole into the house at night.
- She stole away from the party.
- The boy stole into the room.
- Base: steal
- Plural: steals
- Base: steal
- 3rd Person Singular: steals
- Present Participle: stealing
- Past: stole
- Past Participle: stolen
- Irregular past: stole Verb
- Irregular past participle: stolen Verb
steal a march on (someone)
1Gain advantage beforehand
To get an advantage over someone by doing something before them or when they are not ready.
- By launching early, they stole a march on their competitors.
- She stole a march on him by applying first.
steal away
1Leave quietly and secretly
To leave a place quietly so no one sees or hears you.
- They stole away during the night.
- We stole away from the party before it ended.
steal someone's thunder
1Take credit for another's idea/success
To take attention or credit away from someone else by using their idea or doing something before they can.
- He announced his own news to steal my thunder before I could speak.
- She felt her colleague had stolen her thunder by presenting her research first.
steal someone's thunder
2take credit or attention from someone
To do or say something first, so that you get the attention or praise that another person was supposed to get.
- She announced her own promotion first and completely stole her manager's thunder.
- I was going to tell everyone the news, but my brother stole my thunder by posting it online.
- The rival company stole their thunder by launching a similar product a week earlier.
steal the show
1Attract all attention and praise
To get all the attention and praise in an event or performance, even more than others expected to get it.
- Her performance completely stole the show.
- Her performance completely stole the show at the festival.
- The little boy's dance stole the show at the wedding.
- The comedian's jokes stole the show during the awards ceremony.