How to Pronounce "thief in the night"
expression
THEEF in thuh NYT
THEEF in the NYT
Definition
Someone or something that arrives, acts, or leaves secretly and unexpectedly, like a thief coming at night. Often used to describe unexpected loss or sudden events.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈθif/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈnaɪt
British English
θˈiːf/ /ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /nˈaɪt
Simplified Pronunciation
US
THEEF in thuh NYT
UK
THEEF in the NYT
Listen in Context
The disease struck like a thief in the night.
Loss entered their lives as a thief in the night.
Sometimes, sadness comes like a thief in the night.
Bad news can hit you like a thief in the night—you never see it coming.