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Synonyms

smash-and-grab

British  

adjective

  1. informal of or relating to a robbery in which a shop window is broken and the contents removed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Feel free to retain the mental image of his epic smash-and-grab catch over teammate Kiké Hernández.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026

"In some cases, incidents appear opportunistic, smash-and-grab, while others look more targeted -- suggesting prior knowledge of store layouts, closing routines, or where higher-value inventory is kept," Jarman said.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

Unlike thieves who carry weapons into museums or use axes to smash-and-grab, art-world scammers rarely get violent—so their prison sentences often get cut short.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

While acknowledging "it's clear we have to be better", captain Andy Robertson was still in no mood to sour the Scotland feeling after a smash-and-grab victory over Greece.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2025

"Probably it was called a smash-and-grab robbery, down here."

From The Enormous Room by Horace Leonard Gold

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