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

1. leave furtively and stealthily
   • The lecture was boring and many students slipped out when the instructor turned towards the blackboard