on the sly en · ADV
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
This diversion was enjoyed on the sly, and unknown to the ladies of the house.
1857, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 16, in The Virginians:He was working for us on the sly at the Herald-Traveler-Record-American (before it shortened its topheavy name), then as now a reactionary, homophobic rag. Evidently he placed himself at some risk to help us, I learned later, because he was threatened with dismissal for his unauthorized use of the typesetter.
1984 December 15, John Kyper, “Remembering David Stryker”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 22, page 5:
Synonyms
on the quiet · clandestinely · on the down-low · furtively · on the Q.T.
Translations (32)
ru исподтишка́ (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · sv i smyg (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · ru укра́дкой (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · az əlaltından (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · cmn 悄悄 (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · de heimlich (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · cmn 偷偷 (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · hu lopva (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · az əlaltı (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fi salaa (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fr à la sauvette (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · ru потихо́ньку (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · gl ás agachadas (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es de tapadillo (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es a escondidillas (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es de extranjis (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es a lo zorro (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fi vaivihkaa (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es caleta (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fr en cachette (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · pl ukradkiem (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · ru тайко́м (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · ru тихо́нько (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · ru втихаря́ (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es a escondidas (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · hu titokban (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · hu alattomban (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · es a cencerros tapados (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fr en douce (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · hu suttyomban (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · nl in het geheim (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily) · fr à la dérobée (slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily)