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Glite Dictionary
to sneak up

to sneak up

101 4.5
To move quietly toward someone or something without being noticed
  • phrasal verb
  • /sniːk ʌp/
translation icon : acercarse sigilosamente a
  • The old man put down the bucket of oats and tried to sneak up slowly to the horse.

So, you know, you have to sneak up on them and then, you know.

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Examples

  • Then we sneak up behind him and we scare him.

  • So, you know, you have to sneak up on them and then, you know.

    Harvard University

  • Well, we, we have to sneak up on that one a little bit.

  • Let's sneak up on her.

    Lethal Weapon (1987)

  • The day was so nice that she became careless, and a fox sneaked up behind her and caught her.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Some wobbegongs have been observed sneaking up on their prey.

  • We could disappear, fly onto boxcars, and sneak up behind him without a rattle.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The cat tried to sneak up on the bird without making a sound.

  • He decided to sneak up behind her to surprise her for her birthday.

  • They planned to sneak up on their friends during the camping trip.

Synonyms

to creep up
vsto sneak up
33 4.6

To move or happen slowly and quietly so it is not noticed

lacks the slow gradual movement and can be quicker
to stalk its prey
vsto sneak up
6 6.6

To move quietly and carefully toward an animal to catch it by surprise

focuses on stealthy approach generally, not specifically for hunting
to sidle up
vsto sneak up
4 7.6

To move close to someone quietly to pretend to be friendly and get their favour

lacks the flattering or insincere intent and is plain stealthy

Antonyms

to accost
24 8.0

Go up to someone and speak to them in a bold or aggressive way

How Stealthy

to stalk
  • Offensive
195 7.4
to sneak up
101 4.5
to creep up
33 4.6
to tiptoe
44 3.1

Surface Forms

sneak up infinitive
sneaked up past
sneaked up past participle
sneaking up present participle
sneaks up third person singular

Morphology

sneak + up

The meaning 'to approach someone stealthily' is directly derivable from 'sneak' (to move without being noticed) combined with 'up' (toward/closer); the particle simply adds directional approach without introducing an idiomatic shift. This verb+particle composition is a common, compositional pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Sneak up comes from the image of someone or a cat moving very quietly to get close behind you; they sneak, meaning they move quietly, and then come up close without being seen. That's why the phrase means 'to approach someone or something quietly and without being noticed'.