rob

Everyday

1. To rob means to take money or things from a person or place in a wrong way, often by force or threats. tree →
2. To rob someone of something means to take away something good they should have: "the injury robbed her of the win". tree →
3. (informal) "That's daylight robbery!" means the price is far too high. tree →
4. Rob is also a short name for Robert. tree →

In the lessons

In stories robbers rob banks, trains and travellers, and the hero catches them. In safety lessons children learn to keep valuables safe and tell a grown-up if something is stolen. In sport talk, "we were robbed!" means "we lost unfairly". Phrases: rob a bank, rob someone of something, robbed blind, rob Peter to pay Paul, daylight robbery.

Examples

• Two men robbed the bank and ran off. tree →
• The thief robbed the old man of his wallet. tree →
• Robin Hood robbed the rich to give to the poor. tree →
• The shop was robbed last night, so the police came. tree →
• A late goal robbed us of the cup. tree →
• Four pounds for a small juice? That's daylight robbery! tree →
• "We were robbed!" shouted the fans after the bad call. tree →
• Rob is my brother's best friend. tree →
• “I met thieves and they robbed me. tree →

Note

Past form: robbed, with double b; -ing form: robbing. You rob a person or a place; you steal a thing: "they robbed the bank" but "they stole the money". Robber = the person, robbery = the crime. Do not confuse rob with "robe" (a long gown).

In Jewish tradition

To rob is to take what belongs to another by force; the Torah forbids it and says wrongdoers will be robbed in their turn.

Interpretation. The rabbis counted robbery as a serious sin against another person that must be repaid, and even delaying a worker's wages was seen as a kind of robbing.

Examples

• Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (Torah LEV.19.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate. (Torah LEV.26.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not make thy ways prosperous; and thou shalt be only oppressed and robbed alway, and there shall be none to save thee. (Torah DEU.28.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• But ye say: 'Wherein have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and heave-offerings. (Prophets MAL.3.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ye are cursed with the curse, yet ye rob Me, even this whole nation. (Prophets MAL.3.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate; (Writings PRO.22.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form: robbed, with double b; -ing form: robbing. You rob a person or a place; you steal a thing: "they robbed the bank" but "they stole the money". Robber = the person, robbery = the crime. Do not confuse rob with "robe" (a long gown).