sneak off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To leave a place secretly and quietly, without being noticed or without permission. It implies a desire to avoid attention or detection when departing.
Usage
- This verb phrase describes the act of departing stealthily. It is typically used when someone wants to avoid a social obligation, a boring situation, or simply does not want to announce their exit.
- It is often followed by a prepositional phrase starting with "to" (e.g., sneak off to the kitchen) or "from" (e.g., sneak off from the party).
Examples
- ) to make a private phone call.*
Advanced Usage
- "to sneak off with (something/someone)": To leave secretly while taking something or someone with you.
- Someone sneaked off with the last piece of cake.
- They sneaked off with the company's confidential files.
Variants and Related Words
- Sneak out (phrasal verb): Very similar in meaning to "sneak off," often used interchangeably. "Sneak out" can sometimes emphasize leaving a confined space (like a building or room).
- He sneaked out the back door.
- Slip away/out (phrasal verb): A close synonym meaning to leave quietly and unnoticed.
- She slipped away before the party ended.
Synonyms
- Slip away
- Slip out
- Steal away
- Creep off
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Sneak in/into: To enter a place secretly.
- We sneaked into the cinema without paying.
- Sneak up on: To approach someone quietly so they do not notice until you are very close.
- Don't sneak up on me like that! You scared me.
Related Idioms
- To give someone the slip: To escape from someone who is following or watching you.
- The spy gave his pursuers the slip by sneaking off down a side alley.
Verb
- leave furtively and stealthily
- The lecture was boring and many students slipped out when the instructor turned towards the blackboard