lock the barn door after the horse has bolted

To try to prevent or rectify a problem after the damage has already been done. My father quit smoking after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, but I'm afraid he's locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.

See also: after, barn, bolt, door, horse, lock

lock the barn door after the horse is stolen

See also: after, barn, door, horse, lock, stolen

lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

To try to prevent or rectify a problem after the damage has already been done. My father quit smoking after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, but I'm afraid he's locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

See also: after, bolt, door, horse, lock, stable

lock the stable door after the horse is stolen

See also: after, door, horse, lock, stable, stolen

steal (one's) heart

To captivate one; to instill in one a deep affection or love. You stole my heart the moment I met you. The young actress has stolen the nation's heart.

steal (one's) thunder

1. To garner the attention or praise that one had been expecting or receiving for some accomplishment, announcement, etc. My brother is the star athlete of our high school, so no matter what I succeed in, he's constantly stealing my thunder. We were about to announce our engagement when Jeff and Tina stole our thunder and revealed that they were going to have a baby.

2. To steal one's idea, plan, or intellectual property and use it for profit or some benefit. We had the idea for "digital paper" years ago, but I see they've stolen our thunder and have their own version of it on the market.

steal a march

To gain an unexpected or surreptitious advantage over someone or something, as by accomplishing something before, or better than, someone else. The retail business managed to steal a march on its competitors by signing an exclusive export agreement with Europe. John and I were both trying to win Courtney's heart, but he stole a march when he managed to get tickets to Courtney's favorite band.

steal away

1. To leave or depart from some location or situation very quickly, quietly, and furtively. I started feeling a bit despondent at the party, so I stole away while no one was looking. The two stole away to share a kiss.

2. To steal someone or something (from someone); to rob someone of someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "steal" and "away." The two thieves stole the statue away by loading it into a helicopter and making off into the night sky. The gang has been stealing children away for years and brainwashing them as young soldiers.

3. To take someone or something away from someone, especially in a way that seems unfair or malicious. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "steal" and "away." The team had victory within their grasp, but with a last-minute field goal, the reigning champions stole it away from them. I don't know why you're so convinced that I'm trying to steal your boyfriend away, but it simply is not true!

steal from (someone or something)

To take (money or property) from someone, some group, some institution, etc., illegally or without their knowledge or consent. A noun or pronoun can be used between "steal" and "from" to specify what is being stolen. People who sign onto social welfare when they don't really need it are just stealing from the government. After they caught their youngest son stealing money from them to pay for drugs, they had him shipped off to boarding school. Sarah has been accused of stealing food from the school cafeteria.

steal off (someone or something)

To take (money or property) from someone, some group, some institution, etc., illegally or without their knowledge or consent. A noun or pronoun can be used between "steal" and "from" to specify what is being stolen. People who sign onto social welfare when they don't really need it are just stealing off the government. After they caught their youngest son stealing money off them to pay for drugs, they had him shipped off to boarding school. A group of bandits has been stealing supplies off travelers that pass through the region.

steal out of (some place)

To leave some place secretly, inconspicuously, or discreetly. We stole out of the store before anyone had a chance to notice that we'd taken anything. I stole out of the meeting to answer a phone call about a new job opportunity.

steal over (someone or something)

1. To cover or move across someone or something slowly and gradually. Dark, ominous clouds stole over us, threatening to drench our picnic with rain. A shadow stole over the city as the giant spaceship blotted out the sun.

2. Of a state or condition, to engulf, envelop, or consume someone or something. Chaos stole over the entire country following the collapse of the monarchy. Gut-wrenching despair stole over us as we realized we were all going to lose our jobs.

steal the limelight

To garner attention or praise at the expense or to the exclusion of someone or something else. Are you sure you want to wear such an extravagant dress to your sister's wedding? You don't want to steal the limelight. The other talk show guests found themselves on the sidelines as the comedian's hilarious stories and infectious personality stole the limelight.

steal the show

To become the main focus of attention or deliver the most captivating performance in the presence of one or more others, typically unexpectedly. The opening band totally stole the show tonight—they were amazing. I'm sorry, I was trying to listen to your speech, but your adorable little sister stole the show when she came prancing out here.

See also: show, steal

steal the spotlight

To garner attention or praise at the expense of someone or something else. My brother is the star athlete of our high school, so no matter what I succeed in, he's constantly stealing the spotlight. We were just about to announce our engagement when Jeff and Tina stole the spotlight and revealed that they were going to have a baby.

stolen fruit is (the) sweetest

That which is illicit or illegal is all the more enticing simply by being illicit or illegal. Some people end up cheating on their spouses and partners not out of some deep affection for the other person, but because stolen fruit is sweetest. Why slave away all day to buy nice things with our hard-earned money when there are ways to get them for free? Stolen fruit is the sweetest, after all.

stolen fruit is sweet

That which is illicit or illegal is all the more enticing simply by being illicit or illegal. Some people end up cheating on their spouses and partners not out of some deep affection for the other person, but because stolen fruit is sweet. Why slave away all day to buy nice things with our hard-earned money when there are ways to get them for free? Stolen fruit is sweet, after all.

stolen pleasures are (the) sweetest

That which is illicit or illegal is all the more enticing simply by being illicit or illegal. Some people end up cheating on their spouses and partners not out of some deep affection for the other person, but because stolen pleasures are sweetest. Why slave away all day to buy nice things with our hard-earned money when there are ways to get them for free? Stolen pleasures are the sweetest, after all.

steal away (from someone or something)

to sneak away from someone or something. The thief stole away from the policeman. We stole away from the boring lecture.

steal the spotlight

and steal the show Fig.

to give the best performance in a show, play, or some other event; to get attention for oneself. The lead in the play was very good, but the butler stole the show. Ann always tries to steal the spotlight when she and I make a presentation.

stolen fruit is sweetest

and stolen pleasures are sweetest

Prov. People often enjoy illicit things just because they are illicit. To judge from the number of his extramarital affairs, John must believe that stolen pleasures are sweetest.

lock the barn door after the horse has bolted

Also, lock the stable door after the horse is stolen. Take precautions after damage has occurred. For example, After the burglary they installed an alarm system, but it's locking the barn door, or Deciding to negotiate now after they've been fired-that's a matter of locking the stable door after the horse is stolen . These expressions of action that is useless because it comes too late have long been proverbs in many languages and first appeared in English in the mid-1300s.

See also: after, barn, bolt, door, horse, lock

steal the show

Also, steal the spotlight. Be the center of attention, as in The speeches were interesting but Eliza's singing stole the show. This idiom alludes to unexpectedly outshining the rest of the cast in a theatrical production. [First half of 1900s]

See also: show, steal

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

steal a march

COMMON If you steal a march on someone, you do something before them and so gain an advantage over them. Investors from other countries will be annoyed that their rivals have once again stolen a march on them.. In the 1980s, they stole a march on other Europeans by attracting massive amounts of foreign investment. Note: If an army steals a march on the enemy, it moves secretly and takes the enemy by surprise.

steal the show

COMMON If someone or something in a show or other event steals the show, they are more impressive or amusing than anyone or anything else and, as a result, get more attention or praise. All three singers gave impressive performances but it was Domingo who stole the show. It's Jack Lemmon who finally steals the show, turning in his finest performance in years. Note: You can describe someone or something that gets more attention than other people or things as a show-stealer. The show-stealer at Citywalk, however, isn't some Hollywood megastar, but a giant gorilla that hangs like King Kong from the front of the store.

See also: show, steal

steal the show

attract the most attention and praise.

See also: show, steal

steal the ˈshow

attract more attention and praise than other people in a particular situation: Actors don’t like working with animals because they often steal the show.

See also: show, steal

steal away

To leave quietly without being noticed: During the party, the lovers stole away to the garden.

lock the barn/stable door after the horse has bolted/is stolen, to

To take precautions after damage has been done. This proverb, found in many languages, first appeared in a French collection of ca. 1190 and found its way into a Middle English manuscript, Douce MS, by about 1350. It has been repeated ever since. Stanley Walker poked fun at it (The Uncanny Knacks of Mr. Doherty, 1941): “He locked the stable door while they were putting the cart before the horse.”

See also: after, barn, bolt, door, horse, lock, stable, to

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