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on the sly

Also found in: Idioms

0.01 sec.

sly (sl

)

adj. sli·er (sl

r) also sly·er, sli·est (sl

st) also sly·est

1. Clever or cunning, especially in the practice of deceit.

2. Stealthy or surreptitious: took a sly look at the letter on the table.

3. Playfully mischievous: a sly laugh.

Idiom:

on the sly

In a way intended to escape notice: took extra payments on the sly.

[Middle English sleigh, from Old Norse slgr.]

slyly adv.

slyness n.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adv.

on the sly - in a furtive manner; "the soldiers were furtively crawling through the night"

furtively

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By the sly
cunning
slier
sliest
sly

slyly
slyness
tricky
wily

You believe in a palace of crystal that can never be destroyed--a palace at which one will not be able to put out one's tongue or make a long nose on the sly.

Notes from the Underground by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context

And even if she does not, the Darya Frantsovnas will get wind of it, and the girl will soon be slipping out on the sly here and there.

Crime And Punishment by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context

Grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.

The Four Million by Henry, O. View in context

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