Meaning & Definition of Shoplifting in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: The crime of stealing goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer.

  Example Sentence: He was caught shoplifting a pair of shoes from the department store.

• Definition: The act of taking items from a store without paying for them.

  Example Sentence: Shoplifting can lead to criminal charges.

Etymology

Origin: From 'shop' (place of business) + 'lifting' (a euphemism for stealing).

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• caught red-handed: Caught in the act of committing a crime, especially shoplifting.
• boosting: Slang term for stealing, often used in the context of shoplifting.
• cleaning out a store: To steal a significant amount of merchandise from a store.

Translations

• Spanish: hurtos en tiendas

• French: vol à l'étalage

• German: Ladendiebstahl

• Russian: воровство в магазинах

Related Words

• thief: A person who steals.

• retail: The sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities.

• security: Measures taken to protect a store from theft.

Slang Meanings of shoplifting

• Meaning: lifting

  Example Sentence: He got caught lifting a wallet from someone's bag.

• Meaning: five-finger discount

  Example Sentence: He joked about getting a five-finger discount from the store.