Re: Robbing v Stealing ( Jewelry)

Nick wrote:
John Lawler <johnmlawler@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
[...]

Yeah, 'rob' and 'steal' can both be used to report the same event,
but we choose 'rob' when the direct object is the owner of the
property that has been taken, but 'steal' when the direct object is
the property that's been taken from them.

Bill stole/*robbed $50,000 from the bank.
Bill *stole/robbed the bank of $50,000.

Rather like 'buy' and 'sell' can both be used to report the same
event, except with the identity of the participants reversed.

I'm pretty sure that "rob" in the UK is used in the "wrong" way in
criminals slang.

I associate that with Liverpool, probably because of TV. "He robbed a
Mars bar from the Paki."

--
Mike.


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