sneaky

/ˈsniːki/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsniːki/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsnē-kē/ (ame, mw)

sneaky — adjective

  • sneakypositive
  • sneakiercomparative
  • sneakiestsuperlative

1. describes a person who acts in a hidden, underhand way to get what they want, of

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a person who acts in a hidden, underhand way to get what they want, often by breaking rules or deceiving other people — for example, a neighbour who reads your post or a colleague who takes credit for your work.

例句

The sneaky salesman hid extra charges in the contract without telling anyone.

sneaky + noun describing a dishonest person

It was sneaky of Mei-Lin to take the last slice of pizza while her friends were not looking.

it was sneaky of [person] to [verb]

同義詞
  • sly

    similar but often suggests cleverness and craftiness, like a fox outsmarting others

  • cunning

    can be slightly admiring; focuses on intelligent trickery rather than petty secrecy

  • underhand

    more formal; emphasises unfair or unethical methods over the secrecy aspect

  • deceitful

    stronger focus on lying and intentionally misleading others

反義詞
  • honest

    truthful and fair, the direct opposite of sneaky behaviour

  • open

    transparent about actions and intentions, no hidden agenda

  • straightforward

    direct and clear, without trickery

文法句型

sneaky + noun

it was sneaky of [person] to [verb]

用法筆記

Applies to a person's character or typical way of behaving, not a single innocent act. Sense 2 ('GUILTY PLEASURE') is different — there 'sneaky' describes a specific secret activity, never a person's character.

常見錯誤

❌He was sneaky when he took one cookie from the jar.
✅He was sneaky when he hid the remote control so his brother could not find it.
💡Being 'sneaky' about small harmless things often needs some element of deception, not just taking something.

2. describes an activity or indulgence that you keep hidden from other people, espe

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describes an activity or indulgence that you keep hidden from other people, especially because it is against a rule or you feel guilty about it — for example, a cigarette you hide from your family or a piece of cake you eat before dinner.

例句

After dinner, Sofia had a sneaky cigarette behind the garage.

sneaky + noun (guilty secret activity)

The cashier took a sneaky bite of chocolate from a box meant for a customer.

同義詞
  • secret

    neutral tone, no guilty feeling implied

  • clandestine

    much more formal, often used for secret meetings or relationships

  • furtive

    suggests nervous, hurried secrecy as if trying not to get caught

反義詞
  • open

    done publicly, nothing to hide

  • above board

    completely honest and within the rules

文法句型

sneaky + noun (an activity or indulgence kept secret)

用法筆記

Only used before a noun — you can say 'a sneaky cigarette' but not 'the cigarette was sneaky'. This sense describes the activity itself, never the character of the person doing it. Compare with sense 1 ('SECRET AND DISHONEST').

常見錯誤

❌She is a sneaky smoker.' (if meaning she smokes in secret).
✅She had a sneaky cigarette in the garden.
💡Use 'sneaky' before the activity noun, not as a description of the person.