sneakyadj.n.
/ˈsniːki/, U.S. /ˈsniki/ A. adj.
1. Of persons: Like or resembling a sneak; mean, paltry, sneaking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > sneakiness > sneaky person > [adjective]
sneaking1582
makeshift1592
glibbery1601
meeching1616
sneaky1834
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > underhand or sneaky
subornate1548
sneaking1582
sinistral1598
sinistruous1601
left-sided1607
left-handed1615
meeching1616
leer1631
backstabbing1803
sneaky1834
underhand1842
sneakish1864
underhanded1864
low-down1905
1834 Christmas Improvem. ii. 31 She is a nasty sneaky thing, for she is always trying to make us say things that are not true.
1873 R. Broughton Nancy I. 142 ‘Did you ever see such a fool as I look?’ say I, feeling very sneaky.
2. Characterized by, partaking of, sneaking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > sneakiness > [adjective]
sneaky1861
shady1862
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [adjective]
slipperc1000
hinderc1200
slidderya1250
covert1340
unwrast1393
slyc1440
slippery1555
fetching1570
shifting1581
as slippery as an eel1601
roundabout1608
corner-creeping1610
shuffling1616
prevaricatory1645
prevaricative1657
sliverly1674
whifflinga1680
sneak-pasty1681
slid1719
evasive1725
shauchling1755
shifty1837
slab-bridged1845
sneaky1861
pussy-footed1893
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
pussyfooting1926
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > underhand or sneaky > specifically of actions, etc.
underhand1592
sneaky1861
1861 G. H. Kingsley in F. Galton Vacation Tourists 126 The blue hare..pestering your pointers and setters with his sneaky draws, and foolishly astute meanderings.
1865 E. Burritt Walk to Land's End 333 We attribute a mean, sneaky, hypocritical mind to Mr. Pecksniff.
1868 A. K. H. Boyd Lessons Middle Age 256 That sneaky way in which some people are able to insinuate evil against their neighbours.
3. Sneaky Pete, sneaky pete: a name given to any of various illicit or cheap intoxicating beverages. Also attributive. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > types or qualities of intoxicating liquor > [noun] > illicit
sly grog (seller, etc.)1829
Sneaky Pete1949
1949 Collier's 3 Sept. 40/1 A group which was..discussing the effects of ‘sneaky-pete’, a generic term for fortified wines.
1951 N.Y. Times 13 June 24/4 Progression from sneaky pete to pot to horse to banging.
1955 Amer. Speech 30 88 Sneaky pete, marijuana mixed in wine.
1965 J. S. Gunn Terminol. Shearing Industry i. 32 Sneaky pete, one of the many vivid names..which shearers and others give to cheap wine.
1971 J. H. Jones in J. H. Clarke Harlem 310 He walked around an unconscious Sneaky Pete drinker.
1978 J. Gores Gone, no Forwarding (1979) vi. 40 The stranger bought a pint of sneaky pete and he and Sammy went to sit in his short and drink it.
B. n.
A small concealed microphone or other device for surveillance or espionage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > sound magnification or reproduction > [noun] > microphone
carbon transmitter1878
microphone1878
carbon microphone1879
pantelephone1881
phonoscope1890
mike1911
condenser microphone1921
magnetophone1922
radio microphone1922
ionophone1924
crystal microphone1925
ribbon microphone1925
radio mike1926
laryngophone1927
velocity microphone1931
ribbon mike1933
pressure microphone1934
bug1936
eight ball1937
ribbon1937
throat microphone1937
throat mike1937
rifle microphone1938
parabolic microphone1939
lip microphone1941
intercept1942
spike mike1950
spy-mike1955
spy-microphone1960
mic1961
rifle mike1961
gun microphone1962
spike microphone1962
shotgun microphone1968
Lavallière1972
wire1973
sneaky1974
multi-mikes1990
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > electronic espionage > [noun] > device
bug1936
wiretap1950
spy-mike1955
spy-microphone1960
sneaky1974
1974 M. Copeland Real Spy World 317 A ‘sneaky’ differs from the other technical devices in that it is planted inside an intelligence target.
1977 F. Webb Go for Out v. 78 His car had been fitted with a sneaky..searching for a microscopic radio transmitter was pointless.
1978 D. Bloodworth Crosstalk xxi. 168 I never actually found the mikes or the cameras, but..I just thought I'd get away from all the sneakies.
Derivatives
ˈsneakily adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adverb]
softlyc1225
by stalea1240
privilya1250
slylyc1275
thieflyc1290
stealingly13..
by stealth1390
stalworthlya1400
theftfullyc1400
theftlyc1400
theftuouslyc1400
under veilc1425
thievishly?c1450
by theft1488
quietly1488
furtively1490
by surreption1526
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
underhand1538
insidiously1545
creepingly1548
surreptiously1573
underboard1582
filchingly1583
sneakingly1598
underwater1600
slipperily1603
thief-likea1625
clandestinely1632
surreptitiously1643
thievously1658
clancularly1699
stownlins1786
stealthily1806
underhandedly1806
stolen-wise1813
on (upon, under, or by) the sly1818
round-the-corner1820
underhanded1823
stealthfully1828
slinkingly1830
slippingly1830
on the sneak?1863
sneakishly1867
behind backs1874
stalkingly1891
on the side1893
under the counter1926
underground1935
under the table1938
down and dirty1959
sneakily1966
1966 D. Varaday Gara-Yaka's Domain vii. 75 As fast as he drove off one crowd of fluttering birds, another swooped in, nipping sneakily with slashing beaks.
1974 P. Cave Mama (new ed.) ix. 77 Peter the publican was hovering sneakily around with his ears wide open.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1834