thief in the night
English
Etymology
A calque from Ancient Greek κλέπτης ἐν νυκτὶ (kléptēs en nuktì).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /θiːf ɪn ðə naɪt/
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
thief in the night (plural thieves in the night)
- Something stealthy or that occurs without warning.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, 1 Thessalonians 5:2:
- For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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Usage notes
- Mostly used in similes, after like.