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to lift

to lift

4 8.1
To steal something secretly from a shop or person
  • verb
  • /lɪft/
  • Informal
: hurtar
  • I have literally had the clothes lifted from off my back.

Examples

  • Someone lifted it from my room.

  • The chain shakes like a ruby necklace lifted from its velvet box.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Maybe she wanted to give back something she had lifted from him.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • - Want to give me that book you lifted?

  • Somebody's trying to lift this contract.

  • "If I were a burglar, I might lift a birthday card.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I thought something must've got lifted, and I didn't want to get mixed up in it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I was caught trying to lift a wallet from the table.

  • She admitted to lifting jewelry from the display while no one was watching.

  • He got arrested for lifting a bicycle that was left unlocked outside.

Synonyms

to steal
vsto lift
∞ 1.0

Take something that does not belong to you without permission

is mainly secretive and done by sleight rather than by force
to sneak
vsto lift
851 2.8

To move or take something quietly so others do not notice

is focused specifically on quick secret removal by sleight rather than movement
to jack
vsto lift
  • Slang
51 8.6

To steal something quickly or secretly

is more about a subtle sleight of hand than general quick taking
to pick
vsto lift
21 8.4

To steal small things from someone's pocket or bag

is similar but more about a quick sleight than specific pocket work
to swipe
vsto lift
  • Informal
21 5.5

To take something quickly without the owner noticing

is more secretive and skilled, suggesting deliberate sleight
to pinch
vsto lift
  • Informal
19 8.0

Steal something small, often of little value

is chiefly secretive and may involve a skillful slip of the hand
to pilfer
vsto lift
18 6.5

To steal small things of little value, often a little at a time

is usually a single secret act, often done by sleight
to purloin
vsto lift
4 9.6

To steal something secretly or dishonestly

is more about quick sleight rather than formal or literary secrecy
to filch
vsto lift
4 8.4

To steal a small thing quietly when no one is looking

is similar but often implies a quick sleight rather than petty taking
3 7.7

Grab someone's handbag quickly and run away to steal it

is less forceful and more about secret sleight than an open grab
to snarf
vsto lift
  • Slang
1 9.9

To take something quickly, often without permission

is more about secret, skillful removal than fast casual grabbing
to relieve
vsto lift
1 8.4

Steal something from someone in a secret way

is specifically about secret removal by sleight rather than polite phrasing
to hook
vsto lift
  • Slang
1 9.1

To steal something, especially quickly in a crowded place

is more about secret sleight and subtle removal rather than casual taking
to nobble
vsto lift
  • NSFW
1 9.9

British informal word for stealing someone else's things

is more about quiet sleight rather than general unlawful taking

Antonyms

81 1.0

An act of giving something back to its owner

6 3.4

Return someone to their family or a thing to its owner

Idioms

to lift a finger
  • Informal
19 5.1

To make no effort to help

To make someone feel happier when they are sad

To reveal information that was previously hidden

To make someone feel happier

Phrasal Verbs

111 1.1

To raise someone or something to a higher place

22 3.7

To make someone feel happier and more hopeful

20 3.9

To rise into the air from the ground like a plane or rocket

16 2.7

To take something out by picking it up, often carefully or with a tool

Raise heavy objects to make your muscles stronger

6.1

Try to do better to meet higher standards

Compounds

face lift
  • Specialized
15 4.4

Surgery that tightens the skin on the face and removes extra tissue to make someone look younger

12 4.0

A small change to the look of something to make it more modern or attractive

5 3.8

A cosmetic update to a building or place that makes it look newer

4 2.7

A machine with seats on a moving cable that carries skiers up a slope

3 3.4

Seats hanging from a moving overhead cable that carry people up a mountain

3 6.8

A difficult task that needs a lot of effort

lift bridge
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A bridge with a section that rises so ships can pass under it

lift capacity
  • Specialized
1 4.5

The most weight that a crane can raise safely

aerodynamic lift
  • Specialized
1 5.8

An upward force from moving air that holds a wing up

lift pump
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A machine that moves water from a lower place to a higher place

surface lift
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A machine that pulls skiers up a slope while they stay on the ground

1 5.1

A ski lift with a T-shaped bar that pulls skiers or snowboarders uphill as they hold it

1 5.5

A moving bar on a slope that pulls people up while they keep their skis or snowboard on

top lift
  • Specialized
8.9

The bottom part of a shoe heel that often wears away and needs replacing

How Serious

to rob
852 1.2
to lift
  • Informal
4 8.1
to pilfer
18 6.5

Surface Forms

lift infinitive
lifted past
lifted past participle
lifting present participle
lifts third person singular

Etymology

Lift also came to mean 'to take up' quickly, and that made it a slang word for 'steal'. So to lift something can mean to take it away secretly.