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# sneaky

«sneaky» in Mova's school dictionary: **Doing things in a secret, sly way so that other people do…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (sneaky, sneakier, sneakiest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Doing things in a secret, sly way so that other people do not notice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#m1)

2) Done quietly or secretly, often to get an advantage or to trick someone. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#m2)

3) (informal) Small and hidden but clever, like a sneaky trick or a sneaky snack. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In stories it tells the reader a character is sly, secretive or not to be trusted, or is cleverly avoiding being seen. In everyday talk it often means a small naughty act: «a sneaky look», «a sneaky biscuit». In maths problems «a sneaky trick question» warns that the obvious answer is wrong. Phrases: «sneaky look», «sneaky peek», «sneaky trick», «sneaky little».

### examples

- The sneaky fox crept up to the henhouse at night. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x1)
- My brother had a sneaky look at his presents before his birthday. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x2)
- That was a sneaky move in the chess game! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x3)
- Mum caught me having a sneaky biscuit before tea. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x4)
- The question was sneaky: it asked for the difference, not the sum. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x5)
- Don't be sneaky — tell the teacher what really happened. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x6)
- The cat is sneaky and steals food off the bench. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x7)
- She gave a sneaky smile because she knew the answer. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x8)
- “Sneaky tell-tale!” Tink called out from somewhere round the corner. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/#x9)

### note

Comparative «sneakier», superlative «sneakiest»; adverb «sneakily», noun «sneakiness». Comes from «sneak» (to move quietly). «Sneaky» can be playful (a sneaky snack) or a criticism (a sneaky liar); the tone tells which. In the UK and Australia «a sneak» can also mean a child who tells tales.

### In the corpora

- [Secrets leak in sneaky ways.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/476-the-secret-that-got-told/5/)
- [Testing friends with a trick can show who cares, but it is a bit sneaky; noticing who stays works without tricks.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/492-friends-who-only-come-for-the-pool-rich-kids-and-rumours/29/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «sneaky» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneaky/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.