rob the cradle

rob the cradle
rob the cradle
Fig. to marry or date someone who is much younger than oneself. •

I hear that Bill is dating Ann. Isn't that sort of robbing the cradle? She's much younger than he is.

Uncle Bill—who is nearly eighty—married a thirty-year-old woman. That is really robbing the cradle.

* * *
{v. phr.}, {informal} To have dates with or marry a person much younger than yourself. * /When the old woman married a young man, everyone said she was robbing the cradle./ - [cradle-robber] {n.} * /The judge died when he was seventy. He was a real cradle-robber because he left a thirty-year-old widow./ - [cradle-robbing] {adj.} or {n.} * /Bob is seventeen and I just saw him with a girl about twelve years old. Has he started cradle-robbing? No, that girl was his sister, not his date!/

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • rob the cradle — {v. phr.}, {informal} To have dates with or marry a person much younger than yourself. * /When the old woman married a young man, everyone said she was robbing the cradle./ [cradle robber] {n.} * /The judge died when he was seventy. He was a real …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rob the cradle — To rob the cradle is to marry or have a relationship with someone much younger …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • rob the cradle — phrasal : to select as a companion or spouse a person much younger than oneself * * * rob the cradle american informal phrase to have a girlfriend or boyfriend who is much younger than you are Thesaurus: general words relating to dating and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • rob the cradle —    If you rob the cradle, you have a romantic relationship with someone who is much younger than yourself.     My uncle Ted is dating a twenty year old girl. That s really robbing the cradle! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • rob\ the\ cradle — v. phr. informal To have dates with or marry a person much younger than yourself. When the old woman married a young man, everyone said she was robbing the cradle. See: cradle robber and cradle robbing …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rob the cradle — verb a) To marry or become romantically involved with a much younger person. The actress, 31, also pooh poohs the notion that shes robbing the cradle with Timberlake, 22. b) To use a young person for a purpose inappropriate to his or her age.… …   Wiktionary

  • rob the cradle —    to form a sexual attachment with a much younger person    The robber may be male or female:     Hello, you must be Jerry s wife. I d heard he d robbed the cradle. (Evans Pritchard, 1997 quoting flattery by President Clinton)     I could eat… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • rob the cradle — American, humorous a cradle robber someone who has a romantic or sexual relationship with a much younger partner. People are always telling her she s robbing the cradle. She s ten years older than Joe …   New idioms dictionary

  • rob the cradle — have dates with or marry a person much younger than oneself Everyone said that my friend was robbing the cradle when he married the young woman at his company …   Idioms and examples

  • rob the cradle — court a person who is too young, date a minor    You re seeing Lisa? She s only 17! That s robbing the cradle! …   English idioms

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