sleuth
/sluːθ/ (bre, ipa) · /sluːθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈslüth/ (ame, mw)
sleuth — noun
- sleuthsingular
- sleuthsplural
1. a person, either professional or amateur, who investigates crimes and solves mys
a person, either professional or amateur, who investigates crimes and solves mysteries by carefully examining evidence and finding hidden clues
The amateur sleuth discovered a hidden fingerprint on the windowsill that the police had missed.
amateur sleuth — a person who investigates as a hobby, not a job
Inspector Chen, a veteran sleuth with thirty years on the force, solved the case in just three days.
In the novel, the young sleuth follows a trail of cryptic notes through the streets of Lisbon.
- detective
the standard, neutral term for a professional crime investigator
- investigator
broader — can refer to researchers or inspectors in non-criminal contexts
- private eye
informal, specifically a private detective
用法筆記
This word often carries a slightly playful or admiring tone — it is less formal than 'detective' and is also used for amateur investigators in fiction.
常見錯誤
sleuth — verb
- sleuthpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sleuths3rd person singular
- sleuthing-ing form
- sleuthedpast simple
1. to quietly watch people or search for information in a careful, secretive way, o
to quietly watch people or search for information in a careful, secretive way, often with the curiosity or excitement of a detective solving a mystery
The journalist sleuthed around the courthouse for weeks, hoping to uncover new evidence.
intransitive: sleuth around [place]
Dr. Okafor sleuthed through old hospital records, looking for any mention of the missing patient.
sleuth through [records] — search thoroughly
The children sleuthed for clues in the garden after their grandfather told them about the hidden treasure.
- investigate
more formal and neutral; does not imply secrecy
- snoop
more negative — suggests prying into private matters
- scout
focuses on exploring an area to gather information
文法句型
sleuth + around/through + place
sleuth + for + information
sleuth + out + information
用法筆記
Verb sense 1 usually describes an ongoing activity (searching or observing) rather than a result. When the goal is to announce a discovery, verb sense 2 ('to sleuth out') is more natural.
常見錯誤
2. to manage to find facts, information, or objects by searching hard, especially w
to manage to find facts, information, or objects by searching hard, especially when they were hidden or difficult to discover
The detective sleuthed out the truth by connecting three seemingly unrelated clues.
transitive: sleuth out [hidden fact]
A team of historians sleuthed out the original location of the ancient temple from old maps and letters.
It took the young reporter months to sleuth out the identity of the anonymous caller.
- uncover
neutral and widely used; less playful than 'sleuth'
- dig up
informal, implies effort and patience
- ferret out
similar meaning but describes persistent searching in hidden places
- conceal
to hide something so it cannot be found
文法句型
sleuth + out + noun phrase
sleuth + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, which focuses on the process of searching, this sense emphasizes the successful result — finding what was looked for. It commonly pairs with 'out' to mark the discovered item.