Rob vs Steal
Rob = the victim is a person or place (rob a bank, rob me). Steal = the object is the thing taken (steal money, steal a car). You rob someone OF something; you steal something FROM someone.
The one-line answer
Rob = the victim is a person or place (rob a bank, rob me). Steal = the object is the thing taken (steal money, steal a car). You rob someone OF something; you steal something FROM someone.
rob
verbto take property from a person or place by force — the object is the victim
- Two men robbed the bank last night.
- He was robbed on his way home.
- They robbed the store of thousands.
steal
verbto take something that isn't yours — the object is the thing taken (steal – stole – stolen)
- Someone stole my bike last night.
- He stole money from the register.
- Her phone was stolen on the bus.
Memory trick
Rob focuses on the victim: rob the bank / rob me (of my watch). Steal focuses on the item: steal a bike / steal from me. 'They stole the bank' is wrong — banks get robbed, bikes get stolen.
Rob vs Steal: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2The gang ___ three banks in one week.