Certainly! Let's break down the phrase "on the sly" in a way that is easy to understand.
"On the sly" is an adverbial phrase that means to do something secretly or in a sneaky way, often because what you are doing is not allowed or might get you in trouble. It suggests that someone is trying to hide their actions from others.
You can use "on the sly" when describing actions that are done quietly, secretly, or without others noticing. It often has a slightly mischievous or sneaky connotation.
In more advanced contexts, "on the sly" can be used in discussions about deceit or secretive behavior in professional or social settings. For example: - "He was working on his side project on the sly, not wanting his boss to find out."
There are no direct variants of "on the sly," but you might encounter similar phrases. However, you can use synonyms or related expressions to convey similar meanings.
While "on the sly" generally means secretly or sneakily, it can sometimes imply that the action is a bit dishonest or unethical.
Some synonyms for "on the sly" include: - Secretly - Furtively - Sneakily - Surreptitiously
There aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly replace "on the sly," but you might come across phrases like: - "Under the radar": This means to do something without attracting attention. - "Behind someone's back": This means to do something secretly without someone's knowledge, often implying dishonesty.
"On the sly" is a useful phrase to describe actions that are done quietly and secretly. Remember to use it when you want to talk about sneaky behaviors, especially when there is an element of hiding something from others.