sleeper cell
6
8.9
- noun
- /ˈsliːpər sɛl/
- NSFW
:
célula durmiente
- Security experts warn that sleeper cells can be difficult to detect, as they blend in with the community until activated.
- terrorist sleeper cell
- ISIS sleeper cell
- Al Qaeda sleeper cell
You can't tell me that they're, they're not sleeper cells in Judea and Samaria.
- You can't tell me that they're, they're not sleeper cells in Judea and Samaria.
Examples
-
To strike at the United States, al Qaeda counts less on domestic sleeper cells than on foreign infiltration.
Academic text (2005) -
Domestic terrorist sleeper cell identified in Aurora shooting cellphone video.
Blog text (29) -
Zarqawi also activated sleeper cells established in European cities during the Bosnian conflict.
Academic text (2005) -
They are constantly bombarded with images of terrorism from around the world, and the media portrays terrorism and sleeper cells as a very serious threat to every American's existence.
Blog text (19) -
Authorities are concerned about the possibility of a sleeper cell operating in the region, quietly planning attacks.
-
The investigation revealed that a sleeper cell had been lying in wait for orders to act on their mission.
Synonyms
123
7.1
A small secret group that works inside a larger organization, often for political aims
32
8.9
A secret group that plans together to gain power, often in politics
15
6.0
A small secret group that plans violent attacks for political reasons
A hidden group of people who stay inactive until they get orders to do illegal or violent acts
A small secret group of people who plan or use political violence
A small secret group that plans and carries out attacks for a terrorist group
A small secret group that watches places or people to gather information
How Active
- Literature
- NSFW
6
8.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'sleeper' (dormant/undercover operative) + 'cell' (a small clandestine group) yields the predictable meaning 'a dormant group waiting to be activated.' This sense maps transparently onto computing usage (a dormant malware node) and similar constructions exist in other languages, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Sleeper cell comes from the image of a sleeper (someone asleep and inactive) and a cell (a small secret group). So imagine agents quietly 'sleeping' inside a community until they are 'woken' to act, which is why it means a hidden group ready to carry out operations.