Definition

Noun: 1. An advance showing of a film, television show, or other product to a selected audience before its official release, typically to gauge reactions or generate interest. - A "sneak preview" is a special, often unannounced, early viewing intended to test audience response or create early buzz.

Usage

• The term is used as a countable noun.
• It commonly refers to the entertainment industry (films, TV) but can apply to software, games, or other products.
• It implies an element of exclusivity or secrecy before the public release.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The studio held a sneak preview for critics to get early feedback on the movie.
  • Fans were thrilled to get tickets to the sneak preview of the new video game.

Advanced Usage

• "to get/have a sneak preview of": To experience something before its official launch.
  • The journalist got a sneak preview of the new smartphone's features.
• Used metaphorically to describe an early look at any non-public event or information.
  • The leaked document gave us a sneak preview of the company's future plans.

Variants and Related Words

• Preview (noun): A general advance showing or description. A "sneak preview" is a specific, often secretive type of preview.
• Sneak peek (noun, informal): A very brief or secretive look at something before it is finished or public. It is less formal and often implies a shorter, more casual viewing than a "sneak preview."

Synonyms

• Advance screening: A showing of a film before its general release.
• Test screening: A preview specifically to gather audience reactions for potential changes.
• Early look: A general term for seeing something before its official debut.

Related Phrases

• Behind-the-scenes look: A view of the process of making something, not necessarily of the final product itself.
• Soft launch: A limited release of a product to a specific market or group before a full launch.

Notes

• The core idea combines "sneak" (meaning secret or furtive) with "preview" (an advance showing). It is not a phrasal verb but a fixed noun phrase.
• While historically tied to film, its usage has broadened in modern contexts.

Noun

1. a preview to test audience reactions