Which preposition to use with thiefs

in Occurrences 95%

I can hardly think it possible that we have a thief in the house.

of Occurrences 44%

Thieves of my knightly honor!

with Occurrences 17%

There is a man always to be seen there at grub time, a cockish-looking fellow, somewhat, with a horse-shoe pin in his scarf, and he is as thick as thieves with the butchers.

on Occurrences 16%

The thief on the cross was a sinner, yet Christ took him to Paradise.

at Occurrences 15%

The rooms he took were above a secondhand clothing shop kept by a drunken female named Leaver; a supposed widow who lived at the back of the shop with her two children, Lizzie, a bold-eyed girl of 17, who worked at a Clerkenwell clothing factory, and Joe, a typical Cockney boy of fourteen, who sold papers in the streets during the day and was fast qualifying for a thief at night when Crewe went to the place to live.

as Occurrences 12%

Why, he was that anxious to let the police know he had seen an aeroplane steering away straight into the southwest early this morning, that as soon as he warped his boat to the wharf, Todd, like a public-spirited citizen, hiked away for Headquarters as fast as he could run, hardly waiting long enough to understand about the bank being robbed, and Percy's biplane being used by the thieves as a means of making a quick get-away.

for Occurrences 12%

We hang a thief for stealing a sheep; but the unchastity of a woman transfers sheep, and farm and all, from the right owner.

from Occurrences 12%

"She got in touch with a flash gang of railway thieves from America," said Inspector Chippenfield, helping himself to a cigar from Crewe's proffered case.

to Occurrences 11%

He afterwards rose from the low level of a horse thief to the high dignity of a justice of the peace, and I think still lives at Kickapoo.

by Occurrences 8%

And Mungo Park says of the Mandingoes, among the inland Africans, that, while they seem to be thieves by nature," one of the first lessons in which the Mandingo women instruct their children is the practice of truth."

like Occurrences 5%

" "Nay, thou naughty varlet," quoth the Sheriff, turning his head and looking right grimly upon Will Stutely, "thou shalt have no sword but shall die a mean death, as beseemeth a vile thief like thee.

over Occurrences 3%

There was a thief over yonder that possessed a confidence with her.

behind Occurrences 2%

"Yes; but your friend can't see the thief behind you, and when he sees you standing there, not offering to help him, he thinks you are a coward and a traitor.

among Occurrences 2%

Those who do not move in are watchers to protect their property, for there are thieves among the Navajos.

within Occurrences 2%

For while they may be kept safe from the thief within the gates, yet if they are exposed to the weather they will be lost nevertheless.

after Occurrences 2%

We had no more trouble for some time from horse-thieves after that.

without Occurrences 2%

"We, who are thieves without a licence, are at open war with another set of men who are thieves according to law.

into Occurrences 1%

It is to be remembered, that the poets, as well as the vulgar, use some forms which a gentleman would be likely to avoid, unless he meant to quote or imitate; as, "So clomb the first grand thief into God's fold; So since into his church lewd hirelings climb.

across Occurrences 1%

There's also an association forming that will insure these costly animals, and chase a thief across the continent until they eventually get him; just as the bankers' association does.

around Occurrences 1%

She saw again the coarse striped clothes, the cropped hair, the hands and feet shackled in irons, the hideous faces of women murderers and thieves around her.

down Occurrences 1%

after Jean, who, mastered once more by his natural timidity, was flying like a thief down the corridors.

above Occurrences 1%

They took up their iron staves and broke the arms of the thieves above and below the elbow; while another archer at the same moment broke their legs, both above and below the knee.

out Occurrences 1%

For I'd as lief bustle a thief out of his gains as say my prayers, any day, and liefer.

per Occurrences 1%

Now, it is impossible that a man who composes any ethics at all, big or little, should admire a thief per se, and, as to Mr. Howship, it is well known that he makes war upon all ulcers; and, without suffering himself to be seduced by their charms, endeavors to banish them from the county of Middlesex.

than Occurrences 1%

Beside, this is a good deed, and I should think no more harm of being the ruin of such a thief than of getting my dinner.

Which preposition to use with  thiefs