thief in the night

English

Etymology

A calque from Ancient Greek κλέπτης ἐν νυκτί (kléptēs en nuktí).

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), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Thessalonians 5:2:
  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Usage notes

Mostly used in similes, after like.

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