expression, godan verb (-mu)
spare oneself; avoid effort; cut corners
Used when someone avoids hard work or takes the easy way out. Often appears in negative or admonishing contexts. Compare with 骨を惜しむ, which has a similar meaning.
See also: 骨を惜しむ
彼はいつも骨を盗んで、楽な仕事ばかり選ぶ。
He always spares himself and chooses only easy tasks.
骨を盗まずに、最後までやり遂げなさい。
Don't cut corners; see it through to the end.
expression, godan verb (-mu)
nullify someone's efforts
Archaic usage, typically in the negative forms 骨を盗むまい or 骨を盗まず, meaning to not let someone's hard work go to waste. Rare in modern Japanese.
先人の骨を盗むまいと、私たちはこの事業を続けてきた。
We have continued this project so as not to nullify the efforts of our predecessors.