stehlen
to steal
To secretly and unlawfully take something from someone that belongs to them.
EXAMPLE
Gestern Nacht hat jemand mein Fahrrad aus dem Keller gestohlen.
Last night someone stole my bike from the basement.
stehlen
to steal
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Meanings
sich davonstehlen
to sneak away
To leave secretly and unnoticed, often to avoid an unpleasant situation or a duty.
EXAMPLE
Als es ans Aufräumen ging, hat er sich einfach davongestohlen.
When it was time to clean up, he simply sneaked away.
jemandem die Schau stehlen
to steal the show
To unexpectedly attract more attention than the person who was actually supposed to be the center of attention.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrem spektakulären Auftritt hat die Nebendarstellerin der Hauptdarstellerin die Schau gestohlen.
With her spectacular performance, the supporting actress stole the show from the leading actress.
stehlen
to steal
In a figurative sense, to take up something immaterial such as time or attention.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte Ihnen nicht Ihre wertvolle Zeit stehlen, aber ich habe eine kurze Frage.
I don't want to steal your valuable time, but I have a quick question.
Usage tips
Strong verb
'Stehlen' (to steal) is a strong verb. Pay attention to the vowel change in the present tense (e → ie for 2nd/3rd person singular) and in the past forms: 'er stiehlt' (he steals), 'er stahl' (he stole), 'er hat gestohlen' (he has stolen).
EXAMPLE
Pass auf deine Tasche auf, damit niemand etwas stiehlt.
Watch your bag so that no one steals anything.
Sentence structure with dative
The verb 'stehlen' (to steal) is often used with two objects. The person something is taken from is in the dative, and the stolen thing is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ein Unbekannter hat mir (Dativ) mein Portemonnaie (Akkusativ) gestohlen.
A stranger stole my wallet from me: 'mir' (dative), 'mein Portemonnaie' (accusative).
Reflexive verb
The expression 'sich davonstehlen' (to sneak away) is reflexive and has a separable prefix. In a main clause, the reflexive pronoun comes directly after the verb and 'davon' comes at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er wollte nicht helfen und stahl sich leise davon.
He didn't want to help and quietly sneaked away.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemandem die Schau stehlen' (to steal the show from someone) means to unexpectedly get more attention. The person who loses the attention is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrem lustigen Hut hat sie allen anderen die Schau gestohlen.
With her funny hat, she stole the show from everyone else.
Figurative meaning
'Stehlen' (to steal) can also be used with abstract things. Common combinations are 'jemandem die Zeit stehlen' (to steal someone's time) or 'jemandem den letzten Nerv stehlen' (to get on someone's last nerve).
EXAMPLE
Ich will dir nicht deine Zeit stehlen, aber ich habe eine kurze Frage.
I don't want to steal your time, but I have a quick question.
Compare with
stehlen vs erleichtern
to make easier / relieve
„Stehlen“ neutrally describes taking something belonging to another person unlawfully. „Jemanden um etwas erleichtern“ can describe the same action colloquially and often ironically. „Stehlen“ is suitable for a direct, factual statement, while „erleichtern“ works in an ironic formulation.
stehlen
Ein Taschendieb stahl dem Touristen im Gedränge die Geldbörse.
A pickpocket stole the tourist's wallet in the crowd.
erleichtern
Ein Taschendieb erleichterte den Touristen im Gedränge um seine Geldbörse.
A pickpocket relieved the tourist of his wallet in the crowd.
In real life
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