on the sly
9
7.8
- idiom
- Informal
:
a escondidas
- They met on the sly to avoid attracting attention from their friends.
- do it on the sly
- got drunk on the sly
- drink on the sly
Examples
-
We see each other on the sly every once in a while.
-
Of course, prostitution was banned in the new China, but there were always women selling their flesh on the sly.
Fiction book (1994) -
You think I got pregnant on the sly, behind your back.
-
Then she come along, started seeing 'im on the sly.
-
We've been seeing each other on the sly for the past six months.
-
He started thinking that she was seeing other men on the sly.
-
There isn't much privacy, and he must read it on the sly whenever he has a few minutes to himself.
Academic text (2003) -
Next, he whips out his cell phone and admits that he filmed the whole thing on the sly.
Blog text (10) -
Word on the street says Sleepy's trying to creep up on Brenda Sue on the sly.
Fiction book (1992) -
And he’s dating Sheila Rondowski, I think is her name, on the sly, which is a big no-no, ’cause she's his superior.
Synonyms
261
1.4
In a way that other people do not know
56
2.5
In a way other people do not know
52
4.6
Without saying who you are
33
5.1
In a careful, quiet way so you do not attract attention or make people feel embarrassed
18
4.3
In a secret way without someone knowing, often to hurt them
17
6.9
In a secret way so other people do not know
17
8.3
To do something secretly to avoid being noticed
8
6.1
In a secret, clever way so others do not notice
8
5.7
In a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen
5
6.8
In a way that tries not to be seen or heard
5
7.4
Hiding who you are so people do not recognize you
4
8.0
In a secret way to avoid being seen or found
2
4.9
In a secret way so other people do not notice
1
6.1
In a quiet way that hides what you do or think
1
8.6
In secret and quietly so nobody finds out
To act in a secret way so people do not notice you
Antonyms
How Secret
- Formal
4
8.0
17
6.9
- Informal
9
7.8
261
1.4
33
5.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
on + the + sly
The phrase 'on the sly' is directly interpretable as 'in a sly (secretive) way' because 'sly' means secretive/cunning and the prepositional frame 'on the ...' marks manner. A B1 learner who knows the adjective 'sly' and basic prepositional patterns will readily infer the adverbial meaning, and similar manner-marking constructions exist cross-linguistically, supporting transparency.
Etymology
The idiom on the sly may come from the old use of sly, meaning quiet and secret, giving the image of someone stepping to the side to hide what they do. So, it means 'in a secret or sneaky way'.