sneakverb
uk/sniːk/us/sniːk/sneaked or US also snuck, sneaked or US also snucksneak verb (MOVE SECRETLY)
C2 [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to go somewhere secretly, or to take someone or something somewhere secretly:
I managed to sneak in through the back door while she wasn't looking.
Jan doesn't have a ticket but I thought we might sneak her in.
I thought I'd sneak up on him (= move close to him without him seeing) and give him a surprise.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Hiding and disguising
- be holed up idiom
- camo
- camouflage
- cloak
- conceal
- concealment
- drown
- hit the deck idiom
- hole up (somewhere)
- illusion
- incognito
- infiltration
- obscure
- sidle
- skulk
- smokescreen
- snuck
- stash
- tuck
- veil
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sneak verb (TELL SECRETLY)
[ I ] UK slang disapproving to secretly tell someone in authority, especially a teacher, that someone else has done something bad, often in order to cause trouble:
She was always sneaking on other kids in the class.
Synonym
snitch
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Revealing secrets & becoming known
- (the) word is/gets out idiom
- bare
- be the talk of the town idiom
- break cover idiom
- cat
- dob sb in
- emerge
- fink
- get around (somewhere)
- give sth away
- King's evidence
- leak
- let the cat out of the bag idiom
- open your heart to someone idiom
- spill the beans idiom
- take the wraps off sth idiom
- tell on sb
- tongues wagging idiom
- turn
- unmask
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sneak verb (LOOK)
sneak a look/glance at sb/sth
C2 to look at someone or something quickly and secretly:
I noticed him sneak a look at what I was writing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Using the eyes
- before your very eyes idiom
- beheld
- bore
- breathe
- come to sb's attention/notice idiom
- dart
- eye
- feast
- gawk
- get a load of that! idiom
- get him, her, you, etc.! idiom
- glance
- keep tabs on sth/sb idiom
- look-see
- observational
- out of/from the corner of your eye idiom
- passer-by
- rest
- squint
- visual
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sneaknoun [ C ]
uk/sniːk/us/sniːk/UK slang disapprovinga person who tells people in authority when someone else does something bad:
You told Mrs Cooper that it was me who tipped the paint over, didn't you - you nasty little sneak!
Synonym
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
People who reveal secrets & tell tales
- big mouth
- blabbermouth
- dobber
- fink
- grass
- informer
- nark
- rat
- rumour-monger
- scandalmonger
- scaremonger
- snitch
- source
- stool pigeon
- supergrass
- tattletale
- telltale
- whistle-blower