sneaking suspicion
6
5.1
- noun
- /ˈsniːkɪŋ səˈspɪʃən/
- But I continuously get this sneaking suspicion that he is pulling the wool over my eyes.
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Watch on YouTubeBy the way, William on Twitter and YouTube for including because I've got a sneaking suspicion they are right.
- By the way, William on Twitter and YouTube for including because I've got a sneaking suspicion they are right.
- My worry, and I've got a sneaking suspicion the government are going to do this, they're going to use it as an opportunity to track US and grab our data.
Examples
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Besides, I'd want to know if she voted for Obama because I have a sneaking suspicion she did.
Blog text (25) -
DeAnne had a sneaking suspicion that whatever had made Stevie upset at school was no longer the reason for his behavior.
Fiction book (1992) -
I had a sneaking suspicion... you did.
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'Cause I got this sneaking suspicion that we're not giving the people what they want.
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All he had was a sneaking suspicion that everything was wrong.
Fiction book (1991) -
Well, I had a sneaking suspicion you might interrupt.
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I have a sneaking suspicion that that large man back there was inebriated.
-
Over time, I began to get the sneaking suspicion that gratitude was contagious.
Blog text (9) -
I have a sneaking suspicion there's more to this story than just God or the lack thereof.
Blog text (19) -
I have a sneaking suspicion that the meeting will be cancelled due to the storm.
Synonyms
159
4.7
A guess based on a feeling rather than facts
39
2.3
A feeling that something may be true even without proof
2
3.8
A small feeling that something might not be true
Antonyms
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from the parts: 'sneaking' evokes something stealthy or that creeps in, and 'suspicion' is an unconfirmed feeling, so together they indicate a slight, persistent feeling that quietly arises. This metaphorical but transparent composition is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words would very likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Sneaking suspicion comes from the picture of sneaking, meaning moving quietly, and suspicion, meaning a 'doubt', like a small thought that quietly slips into your mind. That's why it means a quiet, worrying feeling that something may be 'true'.