0 secretly or unexpectedly and without being seen
It came in quite unawares, like a thief in the night.
He apparently desired to give the impression that this crisis came like a thief in the night and caught him unprepared.
At that time the war came upon us almost like a thief in the night.
It was something more than critical: it cried aloud for immediate action, because this has not come like a thief in the night.
It will come upon us like a thief in the night.
The enemy will come like a thief in the night.
I think that it will come on us like a thief in the night.
Democracy took charge like a thief in the night.