Definition
顺手牵羊 is a classic Chinese idiom from the *Thirty-Six Stratagems*, literally meaning 'lead away a goat while passing by' — it describes taking something small or making a quick profit when the chance arises, without being caught. In modern usage, it refers to petty theft or opportunistically grabbing something when no one is watching.
idiom
to make off with somethingto pilfer when the opportunity presents itself (lit. 'lead away a goat')
Examples
- ，顺手牵羊，。Tā kàn dào shāngdiàn méi rén, jiù shùn shǒu qiān yáng, tōu le yí gè shǒujī.He saw the store was empty, so he took the opportunity to steal a phone.
- ，顺手牵羊，。Zài hùnluàn zhōng, yǒu rén shùn shǒu qiān yáng, ná zǒu le biérén de qiánbāo.In the confusion, someone took advantage and snatched someone else's wallet.
- 顺手牵羊，。Zhè zhǒng shùn shǒu qiān yáng de xíngwéi suīrán bù héfǎ, dàn hěn duō rén juéde shì xiǎo shìqing.Although this kind of opportunistic theft is illegal, many people consider it trivial.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.