Calling a cbet and hoping to steal pot on a later street

[pokerroomace]

I feel like a lot of the time pots are being stolen from me. Here is a very general example:

I bet pf from late position (standard bet of 4xbb +1xbb for each limper). I get one caller.
Flop brings 3 low cards that doesn't look like it hit anybody (eg. 237r). My opponent checks. I bet between 2/3 pot and pot. My opponent calls. I miss the turn. My opponent checks. I check. I miss the river. My opponent bets between 1/2 pot and pot and I then fold.
(the turn and river don't look like dangerous cards)

This same situation comes up a countless number of times. Are my opponents stealing a lot of the time. Do they intend to take the pot away from me on a later street when they call my cbet?

Sometimes I bet the turn as well so that if they were intending to take the pot away from me on a later street, they'll fold now.

What do you think about this? Is it a standard play that I'm unaware of? Should I be making this play myself when I see somebody betting a lot of flops?

PS - what is floating? anything to do with this?

Thanks for all replies in advance

[pgil]

this is floating. this can also be a lame attempt at a slowplay. typically floating is done with position, as then you can take it away on the turn.

it should definitely be something that you can/do use from time to time, like all moves it has its place

[zenbitz]

technically, you have to be in position to float. In the above case, caller probably has some weak 1-pair hand and is pretty sure that you whiffed. You can either mix it up by c-betting turn instead of flop (or just checking it to the river), fire 2nd bullets, or raise river (dangerous, unless the river card is a least possibly scary)