peeping tom
peeping tom — noun
1. someone who hides and secretly watches people while they are naked or getting un
someone who hides and secretly watches people while they are naked or getting undressed, usually for sexual excitement
The police caught a peeping Tom outside Hana's bedroom window last night.
collocation: catch + a peeping Tom
Amir called the police when he spotted a peeping Tom near the changing rooms.
Mrs Kowalski's security camera filmed a peeping Tom pressing his face against her bathroom window after midnight.
Nasrin spotted a peeping Tom at the bathroom window and shouted for help.
After a peeping Tom was caught near the women's changing room, the gym frosted every window facing the car park.
- voyeur
more formal and clinical; used in psychology and legal contexts rather than everyday speech
用法筆記
This sense is specifically about watching people who are naked or undressing. Distinguish from Sense 2 (VOYEUR), which is broader and covers any secret watching for sexual pleasure.
常見錯誤
2. a person who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching other people without th
a person who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching other people without them knowing, in any situation
The landlord was a peeping Tom — he had hidden cameras in the flat.
relative clause: who had hidden cameras
Darya fitted a security chain to her door after the landlord warned of a convicted peeping Tom across the hall.
collocation: convicted peeping Tom (legal register)
Soren spotted a peeping Tom filming women with a hidden camera on the evening bus.
A peeping Tom was caught filming through the kitchen window every evening.
The office manager was fired after staff found a hidden camera he had placed inside the women's changing room.
用法筆記
This is the broader sense, covering any voyeuristic behaviour. Sense 1 (WATCHING UNDRESSED) is narrower — it only refers to watching naked or undressing people.