thief in the night: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 2.

    USUKGlobalinformalidiomaticMachine
    • A person who steals or acts furtively at night; a burglar or nocturnal thief.
    • Someone who leaves or withdraws secretly and without notification; to depart stealthily.

    Examples

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    • The thief in the night broke into several homes while the neighborhood slept peacefully.

      The burglar acted furtively at night, breaking into homes while people slept.

    • Police have been searching for the thief in the night who stole valuables from multiple houses.

      Authorities are searching for the person who steals at night from multiple houses.

    • At night, the thief in the night moves silently, avoiding detection as he targets his victims.

      At night, the nocturnal thief moves stealthily to avoid being caught.

    • Local residents reported hearing footsteps and suspected a thief in the night lurking nearby.

      Local residents heard noises and suspected a burglar operating during the night.

  • 3.

    USUKGlobalneutralidiomaticMachine
    • A simile describing an action that is sudden, unexpected, and often unwelcome, used broadly to warn against or describe surprising intrusions or losses.

    Examples

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    • The layoffs happened like a thief in the night, with no prior warning to the employees.

      The layoffs occurred suddenly and unexpectedly without any prior notice.

    • She left the party like a thief in the night, slipping away before anyone noticed.

      She departed the party stealthily and without notification before anyone noticed.

    • The funds disappeared like a thief in the night, leaving the organization in financial trouble.

      The funds vanished suddenly and without explanation, causing problems for the organization.

  • 1.

    GlobalBiblicalreligiousliteraryfigurativeMachine
    • An unexpected and sudden arrival or event, often used in reference to the eschatological or divine coming that will occur without warning.
    • A metaphor for an occurrence that happens stealthily and without prior indication.

    Examples

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    • The prophecy spoke of a coming thief in the night, an event that would change everything without warning.

      The prophecy spoke of an unexpected and sudden arrival that would change everything without warning.

    • Many people fear the thief in the night, referring to sudden disasters that happen without notice.

      Many people fear sudden and unexpected events that occur without warning.

    • The sudden collapse of the company was like a thief in the night, taking investors by surprise.

      The sudden collapse was an unexpected and sudden event that caught investors off guard.

Examples:

  • EN: ♪ Like a thief in the night he would fly out of sight
    ES: Como un ladrón nocturno se perdía de vista
  • EN: They strike like a thief in the night.
    ES: Me dan con mucha frecuencia.
  • EN: Robert Ford come around like a th-thief in the night
    ES: # Robert Ford apareció # como un ladrón en la noche
  • EN: No more like a thief in the night.
    ES: Y no como un ladrón en la noche.
  • EN: We don't run away like a thief in the night.
    ES: No huimos como ladrones por la noche.
  • EN: Did ever any President come to his inauguration so like a thief in the night?
    ES: ¿Alguna vez algún presidente ha llegado a su toma de posesión como un ladrón en la noche?
  • EN: Then bury her like a queen, not like a thief in the night.
    ES: Entiérrala como a una reina, no a escondidas.
  • EN: I snuck off like a thief in the night.
    ES: Entonces me marché...
  • EN: Fled like a thief in the night without saying goodbye.
    ES: Huído como un ladrón, sin despedirme.
  • EN: Why now do you come to take me like a thief in the night?
    ES: ¿por qué tenéis que llevarme como un ladrón en la noche?
  • EN: Why, one of them snuck up on me like a thief in the night.
    ES: Bueno, uno me atacó por la espalda como un ladrón en la noche. Aún así, el señor Harper hizo un buen trabajo.
  • EN: Sex steals away strength like a thief in the night.
    ES: - Eso es un cuento y tú lo sabes.
  • EN: It is said: the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night.
    ES: Se dice: el Señor vendrá como ladrón en la noche.
  • EN: For the day of the Lord cometh... as a thief in the night!
    ES: ¡Para el día que en que el Señor vuelva... como un ladrón en la noche!
  • EN: Bribed the lads and crept away like a thief in the night.
    ES: Sobornó a los muchachos y escapó como un ladrón en la noche.

Related Idioms

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Source: Wiktionary

thief in the night | Idiomator