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Rob the Cradle

What Does "Rob the Cradle" Mean?

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"Rob the cradle" is an English idiom. It means "to engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with someone significantly younger than oneself, often implying a substantial age difference."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rob the cradle" used in a sentence:
  • His friends teased him for robbing the cradle when he started dating someone much younger.
  • She didn't mind that he was older; she believed love had no age limits and didn't see it as robbing the cradle.
  • Some people disapproved of their relationship, accusing him of robbing the cradle, but they were happy together.
meaning for rob the cradle

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rob the Cradle" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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