gnome-napping

plural gnome-nappings · alternative gnomenapping

1. countableuncountableA prank in which one steals a garden gnome and then either leaves it posed in a public place or photographs it in front of tourist locations.

   In recent years the craze of “gnome- napping”. has been gathering pace.

   2011 March 7, Julie Carpenter, “Gnome is where the heart is”, in The Express

   5 more examples

   There has always been plenty of gnome-napping in Adelaide, but there were no ransom notes for our dog, and it didn't turn up in any obvious places such as on the university lawns.

   1997, John Griffin, Back Yard: A Gardening Life, →ISBN, page 20

   Mayor Rosenbaum: Considering the seriousness of the situation—hehe, not to mention my impending reelection campaign—I'm setting up a task force to deal with the gnome-nappings. Officer Halcroft will get right on it.

   1999, Mona the Vampire, "There's No Place Like Gnome" (season 1, episode 4b)

   The front's activities are similar to "gnome-nappings" in Australia that David Hult detailed in 1988 and Jan Brunvand described again in 1989.

   2003, Jeannie B. Thomas, Naked Barbies, Warrior Joes, and Other Forms of Visible Gender, →ISBN

   There is a clandestine international conspiracy behind these gnome-nappings, similar in scope and complexity to those organized to perform crop circle hoaxes and stage UFO sightings.

   2004, Marcus Mennes, Gnome & Garden: A Gnovelty Kit, →ISBN, page 44

   They also, in view of the fact that Inspector Tait had just rung in to report that Annabel Yardley knew nothing about any gnome-napping expeditions by her weekend guests, put another question-mark against the gnome.

   2012, Sheila Radley, Fate Worse Than Death, →ISBN