to filch
- verb
- /fɪltʃ/
- During his last visit, Paul's dad had filched money from Paul's wallet.
Examples
-
He'll only try to filch tobacco.
Fiction book (1996) -
I filched these from behind the bar back there.
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I think I know where we can filch an hour.
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Filch it from your old man.
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I'm gonna filch some gin from you.
-
While she was driving, I filched her wallet from her purse and took out all the bills.
Fiction book (1997) -
He has just filched two shillings from my coat pocket.
-
I gave Ike a ballpoint I had filched from the control room, and she started marking up her list of addresses.
Fiction book (1995) -
My favorite waitress raced into the kitchen and filched a cleaned carrot from beneath my arm.
Fiction book (1999) -
While no one was looking, he managed to filch a few cookies from the counter.
Synonyms
To move or take something quietly so others do not notice
To steal small things from someone's pocket or bag
To take something quickly without the owner noticing
To steal something secretly from a shop or person
Steal something small, often of little value
To steal small things of little value, often a little at a time
To steal something secretly or dishonestly
To steal something, especially quickly in a crowded place
To steal something quickly and secretly
To take something quickly, often without permission
British informal word for stealing someone else's things
How Serious
Surface Forms
Etymology
Filch probably comes from an old German word filzen meaning 'to frisk' or 'to search pockets', which gives the idea of quietly taking things from someone. So to filch is to steal a small item in a sneaky, secret way.