Rob

Question

Hi. I have a question about the verb rob.My Oxford dictionary clearly indicates that using rob for house is completly wrong.Ex. My house was robbed, and we have to use burgle instead.But I have seen rob is used for house too.I would be grateful if you could tell your opinion about this.Thanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I have a question about the verb rob.

My Oxford dictionary clearly indicates that using rob for house is completly wrong.

Ex. My house was robbed, and we have to use burgle instead.

But I have seen rob is used for house too.

I would be grateful if you could tell your opinion about this.

Yes, 'rob' usually involves force or threats, and thus involves people as victims.

But in everyday English, the word is often used in a less precise way. So, 'my house was robbed while I was at work' is not an unusual thing to hear.

The word 'burgle' is not very, very common in my experience. I usually hear paraphrases like 'Someone broke into my house'. When I do hear about the act of burglary, it often involves the verb form of 'burglarized'. I think of this as one of the worst examples of American Engish (

shudder

).

Clive

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you

CalifJim · Answer

hrsaneitell your opinion

I would never say that my house or apartment was robbed. It sounds totally wrong to me. "broken into", but not "robbed". I'm not fond of the term "burgled" or the term "burglarized", so I probably would not use one of those either.

CJ

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you very much Jim.

Rob

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