stibitzen

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German

Etymology

Unknown, attested since the 18th century.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃtiˈbɪtsən/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

stibitzen (weak, third-person singular present stibitzt, past tense stibitzte, past participle stibitzt or (uncommon) gestibitzt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (informal) to scrounge, to pilfer, to snatch (often something of little value)
    Synonyms: abstauben, klauen, mitgehen lassen, fladern, mopsen, lange Finger machen
    Die Elster stibitzte sich ein Stück Brot vom Tisch, während keiner hinsah.
    The magpie pinched a piece of bread from the table while noone was looking.
    • 1909, Thomas Mann, “Doktor Überbein”, in Königliche Hoheit, page 147; republished as A. Cecil Curtis, transl., Royal Highness, 1916:
      Im Büfettzimmer herrschte ein Prusten und Kichern, daß alles neidisch hinübersah. Jemand war dort mitten im Tanz aus dem Karree entwischt, hatte im Sprung vom Büfett ein belegtes Brötchen stibitzt und kaute nun stolz beim Schlenkern und Stampfen, zum Gelächter der andern.
      The refreshment room was full of chatter and babble, which attracted everybody's envious glances. Some one had left his set in the middle of the dance, purloined a sandwich from the buffet, and was now chewing away proudly as he swerved and stamped, to the amusement of the rest.

Conjugation

Further reading

  • stibitzen” in Duden online
  • stibitzen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache