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Glite Dictionary
sleeper nest

sleeper nest

9.9
A hidden group of people who stay inactive until they get orders to do illegal or violent acts
  • noun
  • NSFW
translation icon : nido durmiente
  • Authorities uncovered a sleeper nest in the outskirts of the city after months of surveillance.

Examples

  • The sleeper nest remained undetected for years before launching a coordinated attack.

  • Intelligence agencies are constantly monitoring for signs of a potential sleeper nest within the country.

  • The sleeper nest was activated!

  • Intelligence agencies monitor a sleeper nest.

  • Authorities uncovered a sleeper nest in the outskirts of the city after months of surveillance.

  • Intelligence agencies are constantly monitoring for signs of a potential sleeper nest within the country.

  • The sleeper nest remained undetected for years before launching a coordinated attack.

Synonyms

nest
vssleeper nest
  • Literature
69 8.0

A place where criminals hide and plan crimes

are a group of people waiting for orders rather than a physical hiding place
terrorist cell
vssleeper nest
  • NSFW
15 6.0

A small secret group that plans violent attacks for political reasons

wait for orders instead of acting independently within a larger organization
sleeper cell
vssleeper nest
  • NSFW
6 8.9

A secret group of people who stay inactive until told to attack or spy

apply more widely not limited to being inside a community
radical cell
vssleeper nest
  • NSFW
9.6

A small secret group of people who plan or use political violence

wait for orders rather than acting independently within a larger network

How Active

operational cell
  • Literature
8.1
auxiliary cell
  • NSFW
9.5
sleeper nest
  • NSFW
9.9

Surface Forms

sleeper nest singular
sleeper nests plural

Morphology

sleeper + nest

The meaning 'group or cell of secret operatives' is directly deducible from 'sleeper' (an undercover operative inactive until ordered) combined with 'nest' (a concealed place or lair): together they naturally denote a hidden cluster of sleeper agents. This noun–noun compounding follows common English patterns (cf. 'sleeper cell', 'nest of spies') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Sleeper nest may come from the picture of quiet birds in a hidden home: a sleeper is something that 'sleeps' and a nest is a secret place to hide. So the phrase means a secret group that stays 'inactive' until it gets orders.