rob

rob

S3 [rɔb US ra:b] v past tense and past participle robbed present participle robbing [T]

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: rober]

1.) to steal money or property from a person, bank etc

→↑steal, burgle ↑burgle

▪ They killed four policemen while robbing a bank.

▪ A 77-year-old woman was robbed at knifepoint.

rob sb of sth

▪ They threatened to shoot him and robbed him of all his possessions.

2.) rob Peter to pay Paul

to take money away from someone or something that needs it in order to pay someone else or use it for something else

▪ Taking money out of the hospital's budget for this is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

3.) rob sb blind informal

to steal everything someone has

▪ The minute your back's turned, they'll rob you blind.

4.) I/we was robbed!

BrE spoken used when you think that you were beaten unfairly in a sport

5.) rob the cradle

AmE to have a sexual relationship with someone who is a lot younger than you - used humorously

British Equivalent: cradle-snatch

rob of [rob sb/sth of sth] phr v

to take away an important quality, ability etc from someone or something

▪ The illness robbed him of a normal childhood.

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HINT sense 1

Someone can rob a person or place, but you cannot say that they rob an object or amount of money. Use steal: He robbed a bank, stealing cash and valuables worth $500,000.

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