nobble

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

verb deprive of by deceit
verb make off with belongings of others
verb take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom

—Conspuez les Français, says Lenehan, nobbling his beer. — Ulysses, James Joyce
“Why play into the hands of Crimplesham-X by delivering over to him the only two men in London with the evidence, such as it is, and shall I say the wits, to connect him with the Battersea body?” “But if we told the Yard where we were going, and we both got nobbled,” said Mr. Parker, “it would afford strong presumptive evidence of Crimplesham’s guilt, and anyhow, if he didn’t get hanged for murdering the man in the bath he’d at least get hanged for murdering us.” “Well,” said Lord Peter, “if he only murdered me you could still hang him—what’s the good of wasting a sound, marriageable young male like yourself? — Whose Body? A Lord Peter Wimsey Novel, Dorothy L. (Dorothy Leigh) Sayers

victimize, swindle, rook, goldbrick, diddle, bunco, defraud, scam, mulct, gyp, gip, hornswoggle, short-change, con

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