steal flower

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "steal flower" is not correct and usable in written English.
You could use the phrase "steal a flower" instead. For example, "The thief stole a flower from the garden and ran away."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In May and June, though, one can steal flowers in Britain.

Independent

To do this, you must be confident enough to steal flowers from animals and decrease their chance in winning.

WikiHow

Does the same song really recommend stealing flowers from graveyards?

The Guardian - Music

Old black men with sugarcane stalks, children selling stolen flowers, and the pot mender would pass by.

The New Yorker

When Woodfox was a child in New Orleans, he made money by stealing flowers from gravestones and selling them to mourners.

The New Yorker

After thieves stole flowers from him recently, Mr. Price, who could become the Charles Bronson of guacamole, planted his hillsides with long-thorned finger cactus -- "enough to completely engulf the valley," he said.

The New York Times

Police have condemned those responsible for stealing flowers from graves on the Isle of Wight.

BBC

Certain people, the man said, had made a habit of stealing flowers from graves to resell later. .

Vice

In that moment, surrounded by wilted stolen flowers and Caroline Pope and a rabbit, it hit me: Lola was right.

Vice

I didn't worry about Soars stealing my flower to his side.

The New Yorker

I like Gadget stealing the flowers for the wedding from a mourner at the cemetery.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a singular flower, use the article 'a' before 'flower'. For instance, say "steal a flower" instead of "steal flower".

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" when referring to a single flower. Using "steal flower" sounds ungrammatical and awkward. Always specify "steal a flower".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "steal flower" functions as a verb phrase where steal is a transitive verb requiring a direct object. However, it is grammatically incomplete without an article before "flower". Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "steal flower" is considered grammatically incorrect because it lacks the necessary article before the noun "flower". As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form would be ""steal a flower"". While examples of similar phrases exist, these are often found in informal contexts. When writing, it's important to use the grammatically correct form unless aiming for a specific informal or stylized effect. To convey the intended meaning clearly, using phrases like "pilfer a flower" or "swipe a flower" could be considered, depending on the desired nuance and context. Most authoritative sources avoid the ungrammatical phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steal a flower

Adding the article "a" corrects the grammar, specifying a single flower is taken.

pilfer a flower

Replaces "steal" with a more nuanced word indicating a petty theft of a flower.

swipe a flower

Offers a more informal and colloquial alternative to "steal" a flower.

take a flower without asking

Elaborates the action, specifying that the flower was taken without permission.

secretly take a flower

Highlights the clandestine nature of taking the flower.

snatch a flower

Suggests a quick, grab-and-go action.

poach a flower

Implies taking a flower illicitly from someone else's property, similar to poaching game.

appropriate a flower

Offers a more formal and less accusatory way to describe taking a flower for oneself.

pluck a flower surreptitiously

Focuses on the careful, stealthy act of removing the flower.

make off with a flower

Emphasizes the act of escaping or leaving with the stolen flower.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "steal a flower" in a sentence?

Use "steal a flower" when you want to express that someone has taken a flower without permission. For example, "He decided to "steal a flower" from the neighbor's garden".

What's a more formal way to say "steal a flower"?

If you're looking for a more formal way to say "steal a flower", consider using "appropriate a flower". However, be mindful of the context, as "appropriate" can also mean to set something aside for a particular purpose.

Is it ever okay to "steal a flower"?

While technically "stealing" implies illegality or wrongdoing, the phrase ""steal a flower"" is often used playfully or figuratively. However, in most real-world scenarios, taking something without permission is not acceptable.

What can I say instead of "steal a flower" if I want to emphasize secrecy?

To emphasize the secretive nature of taking a flower, you might say "secretly take a flower" or "swipe a flower". These alternatives highlight the hidden nature of the action.