Sneak Meaning
Sneak Definition & Usage
To move quietly and secretly, especially with the intention of avoiding detection or being noticed.
Examples
- "She tried to sneak out of the house before anyone noticed."
- "The cat sneaked behind the couch, hoping to surprise the mouse."
- "They had to sneak into the theater to catch the opening scene of the play."
- "He sneaked a peek at his birthday present when no one was around."
- "The children were sneaking around the corner to avoid being caught by their teacher."
To introduce or pass something secretly or stealthily, typically without others noticing.
Examples
- "He sneaked a note into her bag when she wasn’t looking."
- "She sneaked some extra snacks into the theater."
- "The thief sneaked the stolen jewelry out of the house in a duffel bag."
- "Can you sneak the documents to the boss without anyone knowing?"
- "I sneaked a few dollars out of my parents' wallet when I was younger."
A secretive or stealthy action, typically for a specific purpose.
Examples
- "The sneak of the envelope under the door was clever, but he got caught."
- "The thief made his sneak towards the valuables, but a creak in the floor gave him away."
- "They pulled off a perfect sneak into the movie theater without tickets."
- "His sneak out of the party was flawless, nobody noticed him leave."
- "The sneak of the spy mission was so well-planned, it almost went undetected."
Cultural Context
The term 'sneak' has evolved from Middle English and Old Norse, originally referring to quiet or stealthy movement. Over time, it has acquired connotations of trickery, deception, and doing something secretly or underhandedly. The word is often used in casual and colloquial speech, particularly to describe actions that are considered clever or, at times, dishonest.
The Great Sneak
Story
The Great Sneak
It was a quiet Sunday morning, and the city was still waking up. But in a small apartment on the corner of Maple Street, Emma was already hard at work. She had a mission, one that required subtlety and stealth. Her little brother, Max, was notorious for his love of sweets, and last night, Emma had hidden her favorite chocolate bar on the highest shelf in the pantry, behind the cans of soup. Now, it was time to retrieve it. She moved like a shadow, barely making a sound as she crept across the room. Max was still in his room, playing video games, and she knew this was her only chance. She reached the pantry, slipped her hand past the cans, and grabbed the chocolate bar, but just as she was about to make her escape, she heard Max's voice from the hallway. 'Hey, Emma, what are you doing?' He had snuck up on her, too. Emma froze, caught in the act. Max grinned mischievously. 'I knew you’d sneak it!' he said, reaching for the chocolate. But Emma was quicker. She darted past him, the chocolate bar tucked safely in her hand. 'You’ll have to sneak better than that next time,' she teased, disappearing into her room. Max rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. In the end, it was a victory for both of them, though Max had to admit Emma’s sneak was better executed.
