sneak out
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (phrasal verb): - To leave a place quietly and secretly, especially to avoid being noticed or to avoid an obligation.
Usage
- This phrasal verb describes the act of departing in a stealthy, furtive, or surreptitious manner. It implies a desire not to be seen or heard while leaving.
- It is typically used with a subject (the person sneaking out) and can be followed by a prepositional phrase (e.g., , ) to specify the location.
- The past tense and past participle is sneaked out (also sometimes in informal usage).
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to sneak out on someone/something": To leave a person or event secretly, often implying abandonment or avoidance of responsibility.
- He sneaked out on the bill, leaving his friends to pay.
- She didn't want to argue, so she just sneaked out on the conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Sneak away: A very similar phrasal verb meaning to leave secretly.
- Slip out: A close synonym, often used interchangeably with .
- Creep out: To leave slowly and carefully to avoid detection, similar to .
Synonyms
- Slip away
- Slip out
- Creep away
- Steal away
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Sneak in: To enter a place quietly and secretly.
- We managed to sneak in through the side gate.
- Sneak off: To leave secretly, often for a specific, sometimes illicit, purpose.
- He sneaked off to make a private phone call.
Related Idioms
- Make a break for it: To run away suddenly to escape. (This is more sudden and obvious than .)
- Give someone the slip: To escape from someone who is following or watching you.
Verb
- leave furtively and stealthily
- The lecture was boring and many students slipped out when the instructor turned towards the blackboard