English for Students

English : Heist

What is the meaning of Heist?

First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The ei is like the y in my, and by. Heist is a word generally used in informal contexts in American English. It can be used as a noun and a verb. When used as a noun, it means robbery or theft.

Here are a few examples.

• The heist didn't go according to plan. Several people were killed.

• Jambunathan wanted to pull off one more heist before retiring.

• Did you know that there was a jewellery heist this afternoon?

When you heist someone, you rob him of something. The word can also mean to steal.

Here are a few examples.

• Ramjet heisted a car and drove it all the way to Shillong.

• The thugs heisted some of the passengers in the first class compartment.

• After they had heisted the passengers they began to kill them.