Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As Amazon Associates we earn commission from qualifying purchases.
We all grow up being told stealing is wrong, and of course it is. But the reality is, it does happen. ranging from petty theft to more serious crimes. It's an uncomfortable topic, hence people have come up with slang words to refer to it.
Here are some slang words people use to refer to stealing or stealing-related activities.
Slang Words for Stealing (in Alphabetical Order)
Blag
Meaning:
- (Verb) A slang word of British origins. Means to rob someone, normally, in a violent manner.
- Example: I was lazily walking with a brief case at the parking lot when someone beat me up to blag me.
Bleed Dry
Meaning:
- (Verb) To take all of someone’s money or resources. Not necessarily used for robbery or stealing but is often associated with it.
- Example: The taxes are making me bleed dry. I can’t hold my business for much longer.
Bogart
Meaning:
- (Verb) A song in the 1960s called “Don’t Bogart Me” popularized the term. It means to hog, hoard, or steal everything of something.
- Example: Don’t bogart all of the cake. Mom made it for all of us to share.
Boost
Meaning:
- (Verb) A slang word in the United States that may have come from the Scottish Dialect. It means to sneakily steal something.
- Example: I was just innocently checking out the titles at the record store when the manager suspected me of boosting.
Borrowing Without Permission
Meaning:
- (Verb) A euphemistic slang often used in movies. It means to take something or steal it to return it later (or not).
- Example: We are not stealing the car, we are just borrowing without permission from uncle Roger.
Carp
Meaning:
- (Verb) To steal or take something, usually something that is insignificant.
- Example: The kids carped some cookies from the jar because they thought it was for them.
Chav
Meaning:
- (Verb) Originally a derogatory British slang for lower-class youths, it became associated with the act of stealing perpetrated by the aforementioned group.
- Example: Gangs often have tactics to misdirect your focus and chav your belongings.
Clean Out
Meaning:
- (Verb) Similar to Bleed Dry, this slang means to take all of someone’s money and things. Used often in robberies.
- Example: The convenience store got cleaned out by some teenagers during the night.
Cozen
Meaning:
- (Verb) To steal, defraud, cheat someone. The word appeared during the 16th century and was used often in the criminal undergrounds.
- Example: Grant was very much heartless since he cozened his own dad’s savings.
Debo
Meaning:
- (Verb) To steal or take something usually through intimidation. This word is based on “Deebo” in the film “Friday.”
Gaffle
Meaning:
- (Verb) A Bay Area slang that mainly means to acquire something wrongfully, maybe through scamming or stealing.
- Example: My car stereo was gaffled while I was parked for just 10 minutes.
Gank
Meaning:
- (Verb) To be swindled or cheated on something.
- Example: Laurie got ganked when she rented her house out.
Five-Finger Discount
Meaning:
- (Noun) The act of shoplifting or stealing merchandise from a shop.
- Example: Rick used his five-finger discount to get the new iPhone.
Half-Inch
Meaning:
- (Verb) Cockney Rhyming slang for stealing or pinching.
- Example: Daniel half-inched some bread for his sick mother.
Highway Robbery
Meaning:
- (Noun) A scenario in which you pay excess for something and you feel that is akin to you being robbed in broad daylight.
- Example: The price of the new laptops they released is highway robbery.
Horch
Meaning:
- (Verb) Originally a derogatory term that combines “whore” and “roach” but it later became synonymous with stealing.
- Example: You just had to horch a pretty eraser?! Now, we have to get reprimanded.
Knocked Off
Meaning:
- (Verb) To rob or steal.
- Example: CJ and the crew are planning to knock off a bank.
Lift
Meaning:
- (Verb) Dating back to 16th century London, lift was used to describe the act of pickpocketing or stealing.
- Example: Ron, a street kid, lifted the guy’s wallet without him knowing.
Loot
Meaning:
- (Verb) To rob a place of their items or money. Usually occurs in a riot or times of unrest.
- Example: After the aftermath of the manifestations, there lootings left and right.
Misappropriate
Meaning:
- (Verb) In law or the professional setting, it means utilizing funds or resources improperly. It became a euphemistic slang for stealing money and using them for your personal needs.
- Example: The gang boss misappropriated the loot and spent it on expensive vacations, instead of distributing it with us.
Mugger
Meaning:
- (Noun) Someone who attacks and robs you violently. Used often in the UK and other former British territories.
- Example: Muggers are rampant due to the relaxed police force.
Nick
Meaning:
- (Noun) Usage began during the 1860s, nicked was similar to mugging and referred to stealing or thieving.
- Example: Before I knew it, I had my phone nicked from my bag.
Palm
Meaning:
- (Verb) To palm something means to steal it and hide it in your palms.
- Example: Trey would palm a buck from his mom’s purse when she wasn’t looking.
Pinch
Meaning:
- (Verb) A famous British slang associated with pickpockets and thieves.
- Example: Oliver was a street orphan who learned early how to pinch from strangers.
Meaning:
- (Verb) To pocket something means to take something and hide it. This term comes from the fact that thieves would take something and hide it in their pockets.
- Example: It was just wrong that he was proud that he pocketed some cash from his grandpa.
Prig
Meaning:
- (Verb) Originally used in Northern England and Britain, prig means to steal something or acquire something through unfair haggling.
- Example: The little rascal prigged so much in the market that the police were alerted.
Punk
Meaning:
- (Verb) A general term for any bad acts that were done to someone. It may be a simple prank or an act of theft.
- Example: Jackson had to punk someone’s bike just to get in the fraternity.
Rip Off
Meaning:
- (Verb) This slang phrase is mainly used when you get swindled, cheated, or defrauded. However, it can also be used in cases of theft and robberies.
- Example: Anton ripped off the wrong dude. The man is an actual mafia don.
Smash And Grab
Meaning:
- (Noun) A robbery done by smashing a window and quickly taking the goods.
- Example: Trevor was known throughout the neighborhood for his fast smash and grab skills.
Snake
Meaning:
- (Verb) To steal or deceive someone without them knowing.
- Example: The housekeeper snaked my dad’s prized watch collections. She thinks she can easily get away with it.
Snitch
Meaning:
- (Verb) Famously used to refer to when someone betrays you. It can also be used to denote stealing and is thought of as a variation of the word “snatch”
- Example: The baby swiftly snitched the cookies while everyone was distracted.
Swipe
Meaning:
- (Verb) A more gentle and innocent way of saying “stealing.” Very much popularized by “Dora the Explorer.”
- Example: Lupin swiped the diamonds right in front of their eyes.
Take Off
Meaning:
- (Verb) To flee while taking the belongings of someone.
- Example: The fake investment agent took off with all of our savings.
Trouser
Meaning:
- (Verb) In British English, it means to take something unlawfully.
- Example: Jimmy trousered some cash from his mum and dad. Both were screaming when they found out.
Twoc
Meaning:
- (Verb) In England and most parts of the UK, twoc is slang meaning to take a vehicle without the permission of the owner. Twoc has also been used for stealing other objects besides a car.
- Example: His motorbike got twocced by the Grooch Close gang. He might still find it in a chopshop.
Whiz
Meaning:
- (Verb) Stealing or taking. Usually used by small-time pickpockets and thieves in the UK.
- Example: I just whizzed enough cash from that gentleman for the whole week.
Whiz Mob
Meaning:
- (Noun) Refers to a gang or group of pickpockets or thieves in the United Kingdom.
- Example: Whiz mobs often coordinate to prevent police and targets from getting back their items.