Sly
adjective
Clever in a dishonest or sneaky way.
He gave me a sly look.
adjective
Appearing or happening in indirect, quiet, or secretive way.
He made a sly reference to their past conversation.
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing that you know a secret.
She gave a sly smile.
adverb
In a clever and deceitful way.
He slyly manipulated the situation to his advantage.
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Clever in a dishonest or sneaky way.
He gave me a sly look.
adjective
Appearing or happening in indirect, quiet, or secretive way.
He made a sly reference to their past conversation.
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing that you know a secret.
She gave a sly smile.
adverb
In a clever and deceitful way.
He slyly manipulated the situation to his advantage.
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to describe someone's dishonest behavior, indicating disapproval.
Her sly tactics to avoid work were frowned upon.
Pro Tip 2/3Discreet Action
Indicates someone is acting with secrecy to achieve an often sneaky goal.
He passed the note with a sly wink.
Pro Tip 3/3Hidden Motives
Implies that the person has an ulterior motive not immediately obvious.
The salesman’s sly approach raised suspicions.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to describe someone's dishonest behavior, indicating disapproval.
Her sly tactics to avoid work were frowned upon.
Pro Tip 2/3Discreet Action
Indicates someone is acting with secrecy to achieve an often sneaky goal.
He passed the note with a sly wink.
Pro Tip 3/3Hidden Motives
Implies that the person has an ulterior motive not immediately obvious.
The salesman’s sly approach raised suspicions.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to describe someone's dishonest behavior, indicating disapproval.
Her sly tactics to avoid work were frowned upon.
Pro Tip 2/3Discreet Action
Indicates someone is acting with secrecy to achieve an often sneaky goal.
He passed the note with a sly wink.
Pro Tip 3/3Hidden Motives
Implies that the person has an ulterior motive not immediately obvious.
The salesman’s sly approach raised suspicions.
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Video examples
Snake not Smoke PIPE Snake...
what you'll find the danger with copperheads is at this time of year they blend into the brain on sly and venomous copperheads freeze under stress making them even harder to spot right now they're really dangerous cause they're out hunting food they like a rocky going
Video examples
Why should you read...
and her writing is also brimming with caricature. In her stories, a mother has a face “as broad and innocent as a cabbage,” a man has as much drive as a “floor mop,” and one woman’s body is shaped like “a funeral urn.” The names of her characters are equally sly.
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
The villagers rewarded him handsomely for his help. Back from his journey, the youth thrust the devil’s hairs at the king— but his greedy father-in-law only had eyes for the gold. The sly youth told the king that even greater wealth awaited him across the river.
Video examples
The wicked wit of Jane...
trading letters with their delightfully wicked friend Jane. But this unique brand of tongue-in-cheek humor is just one of the many feats found in her sly satires of society, civility, and sweeping romance. Written in the early nineteenth century,
Video examples
Otter Chaos PIPE National...
that traps air keeping frigid water off their skin and like all extreme sports enthusiasts are willing to go to great lengths for the perfect slide and here it is the perfect slide a group sly here's a family of otters rollicking
Video examples
Kavita Ramdas: Radical...
She smiles slyly. "He was flattered. He began to come twice a week to my center because women could not go to the mosque. And after he would leave, women and girls would stay behind. We began with a small literacy class
Video examples
Calf Takedown - The Last...
this was quite interesting where you see that this little coffe with its intense will to survive and courage actually stops and confronts the slyness hoping that's just by confronting it's going to
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
the Gila monster if somebody gets bitten by a Gila monster chances you're gonna die it's it's very sly it's very slim very many more don't get bitten because you could die from it but that venom oh
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
Seeing his opportunity, the trickster slyly offered Hodur a chance to participate. Loki armed him with mistletoe, guided his aim towards his brother, and told Hodur to hurl with all his might.
Video examples
Turtle-Cam Shows...
be back to do what they can to protect them from the rise of sly sponsored by National Geographic mission programs taking science and exploration into the
Video examples
Snake not Smoke PIPE Snake...
what you'll find the danger with copperheads is at this time of year they blend into the brain on sly and venomous copperheads freeze under stress making them even harder to spot right now they're really dangerous cause they're out hunting food they like a rocky going
Video examples
Why should you read...
and her writing is also brimming with caricature. In her stories, a mother has a face “as broad and innocent as a cabbage,” a man has as much drive as a “floor mop,” and one woman’s body is shaped like “a funeral urn.” The names of her characters are equally sly.
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
The villagers rewarded him handsomely for his help. Back from his journey, the youth thrust the devil’s hairs at the king— but his greedy father-in-law only had eyes for the gold. The sly youth told the king that even greater wealth awaited him across the river.
Video examples
The wicked wit of Jane...
trading letters with their delightfully wicked friend Jane. But this unique brand of tongue-in-cheek humor is just one of the many feats found in her sly satires of society, civility, and sweeping romance. Written in the early nineteenth century,
Video examples
Otter Chaos PIPE National...
that traps air keeping frigid water off their skin and like all extreme sports enthusiasts are willing to go to great lengths for the perfect slide and here it is the perfect slide a group sly here's a family of otters rollicking
Video examples
Kavita Ramdas: Radical...
She smiles slyly. "He was flattered. He began to come twice a week to my center because women could not go to the mosque. And after he would leave, women and girls would stay behind. We began with a small literacy class
Video examples
Calf Takedown - The Last...
this was quite interesting where you see that this little coffe with its intense will to survive and courage actually stops and confronts the slyness hoping that's just by confronting it's going to
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
the Gila monster if somebody gets bitten by a Gila monster chances you're gonna die it's it's very sly it's very slim very many more don't get bitten because you could die from it but that venom oh
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
Seeing his opportunity, the trickster slyly offered Hodur a chance to participate. Loki armed him with mistletoe, guided his aim towards his brother, and told Hodur to hurl with all his might.
Video examples
Turtle-Cam Shows...
be back to do what they can to protect them from the rise of sly sponsored by National Geographic mission programs taking science and exploration into the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
John Wooden
American Coach
I'm no wizard, and I don't like being thought of in that light at all. I think of a wizard as being some sort of magician or something, doing something on the sly or something, and I don't want to be thought of in that way.
Quote examples
Asghar Farhadi
Iranian Director
Unless you're trying to make a movie on the sly, there's no way to get around this. If you want to use public spaces, film on the streets, have the cooperation of the police, you have to have a permit.
Quote examples
Jennifer Hudson
American Musician
Long before 'American Idol', people used to call me a diva. And I be like, 'Hold on, are you calling me something else on the sly? You gonna call me a diva, call me a good diva.
Quote examples
Douglas Sirk
German Director
These happy endings all express the weak and sly promise that the world is not rotten and out of joint but meaningful and ultimately in excellent condition.
Quote examples
Justin Cartwright
British Novelist
The Infinities' is a shortish book but densely loaded with Nabokovian slyness, gorgeous imagery, and disturbing insights into what it means to be mortal.
Quote examples
Boy George
English Musician
Sly Stone made such a huge contribution to the good feeling in the universe, and I love him as a singer.
Quote examples
Evelyn Waugh
English Author
He was gifted with the sly, sharp instinct for self-preservation that passes for wisdom among the rich.
Quote examples
Lisa Brennan-Jobs
American Writer
Sometimes, if I felt badly about myself, I could slyly pull out that I have this famous father.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
There are some women whose pregnancy would make some sly bachelor smile.
Quote examples
Rivaldo
Brazilian Athlete
In soccer, you have to be sly.
Quote examples
John Wooden
American Coach
I'm no wizard, and I don't like being thought of in that light at all. I think of a wizard as being some sort of magician or something, doing something on the sly or something, and I don't want to be thought of in that way.
Quote examples
Asghar Farhadi
Iranian Director
Unless you're trying to make a movie on the sly, there's no way to get around this. If you want to use public spaces, film on the streets, have the cooperation of the police, you have to have a permit.
Quote examples
Jennifer Hudson
American Musician
Long before 'American Idol', people used to call me a diva. And I be like, 'Hold on, are you calling me something else on the sly? You gonna call me a diva, call me a good diva.
Quote examples
Douglas Sirk
German Director
These happy endings all express the weak and sly promise that the world is not rotten and out of joint but meaningful and ultimately in excellent condition.
Quote examples
Justin Cartwright
British Novelist
The Infinities' is a shortish book but densely loaded with Nabokovian slyness, gorgeous imagery, and disturbing insights into what it means to be mortal.
Quote examples
Boy George
English Musician
Sly Stone made such a huge contribution to the good feeling in the universe, and I love him as a singer.
Quote examples
Evelyn Waugh
English Author
He was gifted with the sly, sharp instinct for self-preservation that passes for wisdom among the rich.
Quote examples
Lisa Brennan-Jobs
American Writer
Sometimes, if I felt badly about myself, I could slyly pull out that I have this famous father.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
There are some women whose pregnancy would make some sly bachelor smile.
Quote examples
Rivaldo
Brazilian Athlete
In soccer, you have to be sly.
Example 1 of 10
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