Meaning
- To walk or move quietly so others don’t notice you.
- To go somewhere without permission.
- To secretly meet someone, especially when hiding the relationship.
- To behave in a way that makes people suspicious.
Today's Sentences
01
We’re not sneaking around.
Situation
People are talking about you.
What are they saying?
They think you’ve been sneaking around with your coworker.
Actually, we’re not sneaking around because we're a couple.
02
It sounded like someone was sneaking around.
Situation
I heard a noise downstairs last night.
What kind of noise?
It sounded like someone was sneaking around.
It was me, I couldn’t resist!
I needed a piece of that dessert.
Writer's Note
"Sneak around" is an intransitive, inseparable phrasal verb. Let's go over the breakdown and examples together.
- Intransitive - Verbs that do not require an object to complete its meaning.
Structure: "Subject + sneak around"
Example 1: Someone was sneaking around last night.
Example 2: He’s been sneaking around.
Example 3: Stop sneaking around. - Inseparable - When the verb and particle stay together.
Structure: "Subject + sneak around + place/with person"
Example 1: She was sneaking around the house.
Example 2: He sneaked around the office after hours.
Example 3: She was sneaking around with her coworker.
Related words: Act secretly, creep around, go behind someone’s back, lurk, move quietly, prowl, skulk, slip around, spy, tiptoe around
