opportunity makes the thief

proverb

People are more likely to steal something if presented with a convenient opportunity to do so.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative opportunity makes a thief

  1. People are more likely to steal something if presented with a convenient opportunity to do so.

Translations

Finnish tilaisuus tekee varkaan
  • tilaisuus tekee varkaanproverb
German Gelegenheit macht Diebe
  • Gelegenheit macht Diebeproverb
Italian l'occasione fa l'uomo ladro
  • l'occasione fa l'uomo ladroproverb
Polish okazja czyni złodzieja
  • okazja czyni złodziejaproverb
Russian пло́хо не клади́, во́ра в грех не вводи́
  • пло́хо не клади́, во́ра в грех не вводи́ (plóxo ne kladí, vóra v grex ne vvodí)proverb
Spanish en arca abierta el justo peca, la ocasión hace ladrón
  • en arca abierta el justo pecaproverb
  • la ocasión hace ladrónproverb
Cite this entry
APA

opportunity makes the thief. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opportunity%20makes%20the%20thief

MLA

“opportunity makes the thief.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opportunity%20makes%20the%20thief. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “opportunity makes the thief,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opportunity%20makes%20the%20thief.

Source: opportunity makes the thief on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.