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Thief in the Night

What Does "Thief in the Night" Mean?

homeidiomsThief in the Night
"Thief in the night" is an English idiom. It is often used to describe a person who commits a theft or deception when least expected or without being noticed.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "thief in the night" used in a sentence:
  • The thief in the night stole valuable artwork from the museum.
  • He was a thief in the night, swindling people out of their savings.
  • The burglary happened like a thief in the night, leaving everyone shocked.
meaning for thief in the night

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 "Thief in the Night" 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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