On the sly
adverb
Doing something secretly or without anyone noticing.
He's been teaching himself to paint on the sly.
Often appears as...
- doing something on the sly
- playing on the sly
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
adverb
Doing something secretly or without anyone noticing.
He's been teaching himself to paint on the sly.
Often appears as...
- doing something on the sly
- playing on the sly
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Context
The phrase often implies disapproval or something not socially accepted.
He was dating her on the sly because his parents didn't approve.
Pro Tip 2/3Slight Disapproval
'On the sly' might suggest that the action is slightly wrong or naughty.
She'd been eating sweets on the sly, despite her diet.
Pro Tip 3/3Sneakiness
Implies cleverness or sneakiness in avoiding detection.
Tom completed his project on the sly to surprise his teammates.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Context
The phrase often implies disapproval or something not socially accepted.
He was dating her on the sly because his parents didn't approve.
Pro Tip 2/3Slight Disapproval
'On the sly' might suggest that the action is slightly wrong or naughty.
She'd been eating sweets on the sly, despite her diet.
Pro Tip 3/3Sneakiness
Implies cleverness or sneakiness in avoiding detection.
Tom completed his project on the sly to surprise his teammates.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Context
The phrase often implies disapproval or something not socially accepted.
He was dating her on the sly because his parents didn't approve.
Pro Tip 2/3Slight Disapproval
'On the sly' might suggest that the action is slightly wrong or naughty.
She'd been eating sweets on the sly, despite her diet.
Pro Tip 3/3Sneakiness
Implies cleverness or sneakiness in avoiding detection.
Tom completed his project on the sly to surprise his teammates.
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