sneak
Verb:
- To move or go in a quiet, stealthy, and secretive manner, often to avoid being seen or heard: The core meaning involves moving with caution and secrecy.
- To do, take, or put something in a secretive or furtive way: This refers to performing an action stealthily.
- To act as an informer, especially in a secretive or underhanded way: This is a specific, often negative, usage.
Noun:
- A person who acts in a stealthy, underhanded, or secretive way: This describes someone whose behavior is characterized by sneaking.
- A person who informs on others secretly; a telltale: This refers specifically to someone who gives information covertly, often to an authority.
Adjective:
- Carried out secretly or stealthily: Describes an action performed in a sneaking manner.
Verb:
- He tried to sneak past the sleeping guard. (He attempted to move past quietly and secretly.)
- She sneaked a look at her phone during the meeting. (She took a secret, quick glance.)
- I'm going to sneak out of the party early. (I plan to leave quietly without drawing attention.)
Noun:
- Don't be such a sneak! Tell me what you heard. (Don't be a secretive, underhanded person.)
- He was labeled a sneak for telling the teacher. (He was called an informer.)
Adjective:
- They launched a sneak attack at dawn. (They carried out a secret, surprise attack.)
"to sneak up on (someone/something)": to approach someone or something very quietly and stealthily, so as not to be noticed until the last moment.
- The cat tried to sneak up on the bird.
"sneak peek": a secret or early look at something before it is officially available or shown.
- The magazine got a sneak peek at the new car model.
"sneak thief": a thief who steals without using force, typically by entering through unlocked doors or windows.
- The police warned residents about a sneak thief in the neighborhood.
Sneaky (adj): behaving in a secret and sometimes dishonest or unpleasant way.
- That was a sneaky trick you played.
Sneakers (n): soft-soled shoes designed for quiet movement or sports; tennis shoes.
- He wore his sneakers to the gym.
- Verb: Slink, creep, steal, skulk.
- Noun: Informer, telltale, snitch (informal).
- Adjective: Furtive, stealthy, surreptitious, clandestine.
Sneak in/into: to enter a place quietly and secretly.
- We managed to sneak into the concert without tickets.
Sneak out: to leave a place quietly and secretly.
- The children sneaked out after their parents went to sleep.
Sneak off/away: to leave a place secretly.
- He sneaked off before the meeting ended.
Sneak past/by: to move past someone or something without being noticed.
- Can we sneak past the security desk?
Sneak a win: to win in an unexpected or underhanded way.
- The underdog team managed to sneak a win in the final seconds.
On the sneak: acting in a secretive or furtive manner.
- He's been going about on the sneak lately.
- marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
- a furtive manner
- a sneak attack
- stealthy footsteps
- a surreptitious glance at his watch
- someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
- someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
- a person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive and contemptible
- pass on stealthily
- He slipped me the key when nobody was looking
- make off with belongings of others
- put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner
- sneak a look
- sneak a cigarette
- to go stealthily or furtively
- ..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house