I had a sneaking feeling he'd do well at Scum, Hughes is the ideal partner for him.
I have the sneaking suspicion, fuelled by the clothes my parents packed, that they knew anyway.
It's true - he does have some sneaking faith in poets as being fundamentally decent people.
She had a sneaking suspicion that she knew why the men had not given up their seats.
Still, she had a sneaking hope that as she'd reached her lowest ebb, the tide might turn.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorto think that someone has done something wrong►suspect
to think that someone is probably guilty of something illegal or dishonest: · Act naturally and no one will suspect you.suspect somebody of (doing) something: · He had suspected her of lying for some time.· Both men had originally been suspected of Brown's murder.suspect murder/foul play (=suspect that there has been a murder): · A man has been found dead in his home and the police suspect foul play.
►suspicious
thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without being sure: · I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah's pocket.suspicious of: · The police were suspicious of Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.suspicious about: · His employer became suspicious about the amount of money he was claiming for expenses.suspicious mind: · You have a very suspicious mind, Mary. No, I had nothing to do with this.
►suspicion
a feeling that someone is probably guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest: · I had no solid evidence, only vague suspicions.suspicion of: · She had always had a deep suspicion of journalists and reporters.deep suspicion: · ''What's that behind your back?'', Maria said with a look of deep suspicion.arouse/cause suspicion (=make people suspect you): · The money was taken out of the bank in small amounts so as not to arouse suspicion.on suspicion of murder/theft etc (=because the police suspect you are guilty of murder etc): · He's been arrested on suspicion of murder.
►have a sneaking suspicion
to have a slight feeling that someone has done something wrong, without having any definite information: have a sneaking suspicion that: · I had a sneaking suspicion that my agent was not telling me the truth.
►have your suspicions
to think you probably know who did something wrong: · I don't know for definite who stole the money, but I have my suspicions.
►smell a rat
informal to guess that someone is doing something bad or dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES►a sneaking admiration
(=that you secretly feel, but do not show)· I have always had a sneaking admiration for his music.
►a sneaking suspicion
(=a small suspicion)· We have a sneaking suspicion they're trying to put together a deal.
have a sneaking feeling/suspicion/admiration to have a feeling about something or someone, but to not say anything about it because you are not sure or you might be embarrassed: I always had a sneaking admiration for him. She had a sneaking suspicion that he was lying.