like a ninja
1
8.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
como un ninja
- He dodged the security cameras like a ninja, slipping into the building undetected.
Examples
-
My dad was like a ninja master at this.
Blog text (11) -
I'm gonna be like a ninja.
-
I'll move among the shadows, like a ninja.
-
It looks like a ninja, boss.
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You're like a ninja.
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She crept down the hallway like a ninja, making sure not to make a sound.
-
The athlete moved like a ninja during the competition, impressing the judges with his skills.
Synonyms
8
5.7
In a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen
2
4.9
In a secret way so other people do not notice
Antonyms
How Stealthy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'with great stealth, agility, or skill' is directly derivable from combining 'like' (showing similarity) with 'a' and 'ninja' (a stealthy/skilled person), so the simile transparently maps constituent meanings onto the phrase. This comparative pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English simile composition, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase like a ninja comes from stories of ninja, secret fighters from long ago in Japan who moved very quietly and quickly so people would not notice them. So when we say someone did something like a ninja, we mean they did it 'quietly' or 'without being noticed'.