filch

verb

ˈfilch

filched; filching; filches

transitive verb

: to steal secretly or casually

filch a cookie

Did you know?

"I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer—he kept not time." So says Falstaff in William Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Bard was fond of filch in both its literal and figurative uses; Iago, for example, says to Othello, "But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him / And makes me poor indeed." Filch derives from the Middle English word filchen ("to attack" or "to steal") and perhaps from Old English gefylce ("band of men, troop, army"). As a noun, filch once referred to a hooked staff used by thieves to snatch articles out of windows and from similar places, but this use is now obsolete.

Example Sentences

He filched a pack of gum when no one was looking. too hungry to wait until the party had started, he filched a cookie from the buffet table when no one was looking

Recent Examples on the Web Of all people to filch a flag, Young would be the last you’d finger.

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 28 July 2021 Every week, more stories surface of people who have been accused of stealing or sequestering vaccines, or faking their eligibility to filch a dose.

Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2021 The Coyotes, trying desperately to filch a wild-card spot in the West, cut their deficit to 3-2 with Jakob Chychrun’s goal only 26 seconds into the third.

Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Feb. 2020 Malicious opportunists can attempt to steal users’ information from public access computers with keystroke loggers or other data filching viruses.

Leeza Garber, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2019 Some employers, meanwhile, may be putting the most positive spin on job openings in a highly competitive environment in which the 3.6% unemployment rate – a 50-year low -- forces them to filch workers from each other.

Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 1 July 2019 That was good news because many of the home’s small treasures — vintage glass door knobs, wall sconces — hadn’t been filched or damaged.

Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, 6 Aug. 2019 The amount that Taylor actually filched from the AFDC program was much less than authorities claimed.

Bryce Covert, The New Republic, 2 July 2019 Neither is Jeremy Lamb nor T.J. Warren, the 18-ppg scorer Pritchard filched from Phoenix, along with the 32nd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, for cash.

Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2019 See More

filch

verb

as in to steal

to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep too hungry to wait until the party had started, he filched a cookie from the buffet table when no one was looking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

steal
pilfer
purloin
swipe
thieve
grab
snatch
rob
lift
misappropriate
appropriate
pocket
snitch
pinch
nip
hook
heist
nick
rip off
take
hijack
boost
plunder
pick
seize
loot
run off with
walk off with
sack
pillage
make away with
make off with
burglarize
shoplift
poach
knock over
kidnap
rifle
rustle
mooch
abduct
highjack
grasp
collar
shanghai
spirit
carjack
sponge
nail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

buy
purchase
give
contribute
present
bestow
donate
hand over

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of filch are pilfer, purloin, and steal. While all these words mean "to take from another without right or without detection," filch adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously.

filched an apple from the tray

The meanings of pilfer and filch largely overlap; however, pilfer implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts.

pilfered from his employer

While the synonyms purloin and filch are close in meaning, purloin stresses removing or carrying off for one's own use or purposes.

printed a purloined document

The words steal and filch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things.

steal jewels

stole a look at the gifts

单词	filch
释义	filch verb ˈfilch filched; filching; filches transitive verb : to steal secretly or casually filch a cookie Did you know? "I am glad I am so acquit of this tinder-box: his thefts were too open; his filching was like an unskilful singer—he kept not time." So says Falstaff in William Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Bard was fond of filch in both its literal and figurative uses; Iago, for example, says to Othello, "But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him / And makes me poor indeed." Filch derives from the Middle English word filchen ("to attack" or "to steal") and perhaps from Old English gefylce ("band of men, troop, army"). As a noun, filch once referred to a hooked staff used by thieves to snatch articles out of windows and from similar places, but this use is now obsolete. Synonyms appropriate boost [slang] heist hook lift misappropriate nick [British slang] nip pilfer pinch pocket purloin rip off snitch steal swipe thieve See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He filched a pack of gum when no one was looking. too hungry to wait until the party had started, he filched a cookie from the buffet table when no one was looking Recent Examples on the Web Of all people to filch a flag, Young would be the last you’d finger. Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 28 July 2021 Every week, more stories surface of people who have been accused of stealing or sequestering vaccines, or faking their eligibility to filch a dose. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2021 The Coyotes, trying desperately to filch a wild-card spot in the West, cut their deficit to 3-2 with Jakob Chychrun’s goal only 26 seconds into the third. Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Feb. 2020 Malicious opportunists can attempt to steal users’ information from public access computers with keystroke loggers or other data filching viruses. Leeza Garber, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2019 Some employers, meanwhile, may be putting the most positive spin on job openings in a highly competitive environment in which the 3.6% unemployment rate – a 50-year low -- forces them to filch workers from each other. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 1 July 2019 That was good news because many of the home’s small treasures — vintage glass door knobs, wall sconces — hadn’t been filched or damaged. Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, 6 Aug. 2019 The amount that Taylor actually filched from the AFDC program was much less than authorities claimed. Bryce Covert, The New Republic, 2 July 2019 Neither is Jeremy Lamb nor T.J. Warren, the 18-ppg scorer Pritchard filched from Phoenix, along with the 32nd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, for cash. Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2019 See More Word History Etymology Middle English First Known Use 1561, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition filch verb ˈfilch filched; filching : to steal in a sneaky way filch verb as in to steal to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep too hungry to wait until the party had started, he filched a cookie from the buffet table when no one was looking Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance steal pilfer purloin swipe thieve grab snatch rob lift misappropriate appropriate pocket snitch pinch nip hook heist nick rip off take hijack boost plunder pick seize loot run off with walk off with sack pillage make away with make off with burglarize shoplift poach knock over kidnap rifle rustle mooch abduct highjack grasp collar shanghai spirit carjack sponge nail Antonyms & Near Antonyms buy purchase give contribute present bestow donate hand over See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of filch are pilfer, purloin, and steal. While all these words mean "to take from another without right or without detection," filch adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously. filched an apple from the tray The meanings of pilfer and filch largely overlap; however, pilfer implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts. pilfered from his employer While the synonyms purloin and filch are close in meaning, purloin stresses removing or carrying off for one's own use or purposes. printed a purloined document The words steal and filch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things. steal jewels stole a look at the gifts
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filch

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

verb

Synonym Chooser