io rubo

to take up (someone’s time)

ˈr u . b o → rubare
rub to steal, to rob + o 1st-person singular present
verb · 1st-person singular, present tense Rare #30,469
to take up (someone’s time) A polite expression used when asking for a little of someone’s time or attention.
IT: Ti rubo solo un istante.
EN: I’ll just take a moment of your time.
Conjugation of rubare
Indicative present
SingularPlural
First rubo rubiamo
Second rubi rubate
Third ruba rubano

Se rubo una macchina, mio padre mi ammazza.

If I steal a car, my father will kill me.

— Mystic River (2003)

Non le rubo che qualche istante.

I’ll only take up a moment of your time.

— Le invasioni barbariche (2003)

Rubo ancora dell'acciaio.

I still steal some steel.

Non ti rubo molto tempo.

I won't take up much of your time.

— Drive (2011)

Le rubo un minuto, a bordo.

I'll steal a minute of your time, on board.

— Send Help (2026)

Non rubo più, lo sai.

I don’t steal anymore, you know.

— The Man from Nowhere (2010)

Ti rubo solo un istante.

I'll just steal a moment from you.

— Perfetti sconosciuti (2016)

Io non rubo.

I don't steal.

Buongiorno, Marina, grazie per essere uscita, ti rubo solo due minuti.

Good morning, Marina. Thanks for coming out; I’ll just take two minutes of your time.

— Una donna fantastica (2017)

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