he stole us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he stole us" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in standard English.
It can be used in contexts where "us" refers to a group of people being taken away or deceived, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "In the end, he stole us from our dreams, leaving us feeling lost and confused."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"He stole us one.

The New York Times - Sports

Anyway you look at it, he stole us a point and played real well.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He used us, he stole from us, and that's it," she said.

Los Angeles Times

Treglown has written 'a working life', but he also steals us past the bedroom door, though his publishers will regret that revelations of VSP's hesitant affairs have been trumped by those of the season's other leading biographical subject, Graham Greene.

The Guardian - Books

"Basically, he stole from us," said van Vuuren.

The Guardian

When he stole from us, my parents did not go over to Professor Ebube's house to ask for our things back.

The New Yorker

This is supposed to be a FIFA referee, and everyone can see that he stole from us tonight".

The New York Times - Sports

There were lots of confrontations, occasionally violent, and he stole from us to the point where we never left money lying around at home, and put a lock on our bedroom door.

The Guardian

Every tax dollar is precious, and Wilson should return every penny that he stole from us.

Huffington Post

He used to live in New York, but now he lives in LA with a dog and a Jerry Hsu photo he stole from us.

Vice

Our goaltender stole us a game.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he stole us" when you want to emphasize a feeling of being deprived or cheated out of something valuable, such as an opportunity or a victory. Consider the context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "he stole us" in literal theft scenarios. This phrase often carries a figurative meaning, implying deception or unfair deprivation rather than physical theft. For literal scenarios, use "he stole from us" or "he robbed us".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he stole us" functions as a declarative statement expressing that someone deprived a group of something. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct. Examples show the phrase being used in contexts where a person or entity has unfairly taken away an opportunity or advantage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he stole us" is used to express that someone unfairly deprived a group of something important, often in a figurative sense. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is somewhat uncommon, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. The phrase conveys a sense of injustice or deprivation, where a group feels wronged. Though the phrase is correct, consider using alternatives like "he cheated us" or "he defrauded us" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he cheated us

Replaces 'stole' with 'cheated', focusing on deception rather than literal theft.

he swindled us

Emphasizes a fraudulent or deceitful way of taking something from a group.

he deceived us

Focuses on the act of misleading or tricking a group of people.

he robbed us

Highlights the act of taking something valuable from a group by force or threat.

he defrauded us

Similar to 'cheated', but suggests a more elaborate scheme to deprive a group of something.

he exploited us

Indicates that someone unfairly used the group for their own advantage.

he took advantage of us

Suggests someone benefited unfairly from the group's vulnerability.

he double-crossed us

Implies betrayal and deception by someone trusted within the group.

he betrayed us

Emphasizes a violation of trust and loyalty within the group.

he misled us

Highlights the act of guiding a group in the wrong direction, either intentionally or unintentionally.

FAQs

How can I use "he stole us" in a sentence?

You can use "he stole us" to express that someone has deprived a group of something valuable, like a victory or opportunity. For example, "The referee's bad call meant "he stole us" from our chance at the championship."

What does "he stole us" mean?

"He stole us" suggests that someone has unfairly deprived a group of people of something important, often in a figurative sense, such as a chance, an idea, or a victory.

Is "he stole us" grammatically correct?

Yes, "he stole us" is grammatically correct, though it may sound somewhat unusual to some native English speakers. It's important that the 'us' in the sentence refers to a group being deprived of something.

Which is correct, "he stole us" or "he stole from us"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "He stole us" is a metaphor for depriving a group of something, whereas "he stole from us" refers to a literal act of theft. Context is key in choosing the correct phrase.