What it means
A pickpocket is the sneaky little thief who lifts your wallet, phone, or whatever's in your pocket or bag without setting off your internal alarm bells. They thrive in packed trains, tourist mobs, gigs, markets, anywhere attention gets pulled sideways for half a second. By the time you pat your coat, they're long gone and your stuff's gone on a solo adventure too.
Usage examples
"Watch your bag on the metro, pickpockets work the rush-hour crush."
"A pickpocket lifted his phone right out of his jacket and he never noticed."
"Keep your phone in your front pocket round here, pickpockets love a packed platform."
"Some pickpocket had his card holder away at the festival and he only clocked it when he went to buy chips."
Where it comes from
Pickpocket is old straight-up English, built from pick and pocket, literally somebody who picks pockets. It shows up in English from the late 16th century and has stuck around for centuries as the plain, no-frills word for a thief who steals from your person in crowds or close quarters.
Editors of this term
Mischievous Leaf Sweeper Official watcher of this expression
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