Sneaking a cup of coffee from a busy day is its own kind of treat.
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From Song poet Chen Zao (陈造), 《同陈宰黄簿游灵山八首》: 'we may call it snatching leisure from toil and finding joy in hardship' (忙里偷闲，苦中作乐). The twin idioms 忙里偷闲 and 苦中作乐 often appear together.
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Literal: 'from inside busy-ness, steal leisure.' 偷 here isn't stealing in a bad sense — it's the same usage as 偷偷看一眼 (sneak a glance), capturing small moments.
