简明英汉词典

 on the sly
adv.
秘密地

美国传统词典[双解]

 sly
sly
AHD:[slo]
D.J.[slai]
K.K.[sla!]
adj.（形容词）
sli.er[slo“…r] 也作 sly.er sli.est[slo“μst] sly.est

(1)

 Adept in craft or cunning.
狡诈的：善于谋划或耍阴谋的

(2)

 Lacking or marked by a lack of candor.
虚伪的：缺乏诚实的或表明缺乏诚意的

(3)

 Playfully mischievous; roguish.
淘气的：淘气地恶作剧的；无赖的

习惯用语

 on the sly
In a way intended to escape notice:
诡秘的，偷偷的：试图逃避注意力的方法：
took extra payments on the sly.
暗中接受多给的钱

语源

(1)

 Middle English sleigh
中古英语 sleigh

(2)

 from Old Norse sl?gr
源自 古斯堪的纳维亚语 sl?gr

继承用法

 sly“ly
adv.（副词）

sly“ness
n.（名词）

参考词汇

(1)

 sly， cunning， tricky， crafty， wily， foxy， artful， guileful

(2)

 These adjectives mean disposed to or marked by indirection or deviousness in the gaining of an end.
这些形容词都有通过或表明通过间接或迂回手段最终获得。

(3)

 Sly usually implies surreptitiousness, secretiveness, and lack of candor:
Sly 通常强调的是诡秘性、不可告人性和缺少诚意：
“You think he's open and blunt—he's as sly as a mink” (George W. Cable).
“你认为他诚实而坦率——他（实际上）狡猾得像只臭鼬” （乔治·W·凯布尔）。

(4)

 Cunning stresses cleverness and ingenuity, often at the expense of moral principles:
Cunning 强调聪明机智，通常不顾道德标准：
“Cunning men pass for wise” (Francis Bacon).
“狡猾的人也可算作智慧的人” （弗朗西斯·培根）。

(5)

 Tricky emphasizes shiftiness, deception, and absence of scruples:
Tricky 强调狡诈、欺骗和缺少良心上的不安：
Under the fa?ade of morality and patriotism can be perceived the false and tricky political opportunist that he is.
从道德和爱国心来看，他能被看作是一个虚伪奸诈的政治投机者。

(6)

 Crafty suggests mastery of devious and underhanded methods or schemes:
Crafty 暗示掌握迂回和阴谋的手段或方式：
Crafty plotters make the best intelligence agents.
狡猾的阴谋家可以成为最好的间谍。

(7)

 Wily suggests subterfuge or stratagem intended to entrap:
Wily 表示企图谋害某人的诡计或战略：
Her father was a wily old attorney.
她父亲是一个狡猾的老执法官。

(8)

 Foxy implies cunning and craft and usually long experience in the use of trickery:
Foxy 暗示着谋略和方法以及长期使用害人的手段：
The parvenu was much too foxy to let slip even a hint of his working-class background.
暴发户十分狡猾，他决不暴露自己是工人出身这一事实。

(9)

 Artful emphasizes adroitness in maneuvering to accomplish a purpose:
Artful 强调在实现某一目的时使用的手段的高明：
She won the case by her artful manipulation of the jury's emotions.
通过巧妙的控制陪审团情绪，她成功地赢下了这个案子。

(10)

 Guileful suggests an insidious, often treacherous nature:
Guileful 表示邪恶的，通常具有奸诈性：
“a guileful tournament organizer who manipulates and dehumanizes athletes” (Jeremiah Tax).
“一个控制着运动员并使其非人化的邪恶的比赛组织者” （加莱迈尔·塔克斯）

现代英汉词典

 sly
[slaI]
adj.
slyer 或slier, slyest 或sliest

(1)

 狡猾的；诡诈的；阴险的
The fruit seller was sly - he put his best fruit in front but gave people bad ones from behind.
这个卖水果的人很狡诈，把最好的水果放在前面，可是从后面给人家坏水果。

(2)

 顽皮的；淘气的

习惯用语

 on the sly
秘密的；暗暗的

美国传统词典

 sly
sly
AHD:[slo]
D.J.[slai]
K.K.[sla!]
adj.
sli.er[slo“…r] also sly.er sli.est[slo“μst] sly.est

(1)

 Adept in craft or cunning.

(2)

 Lacking or marked by a lack of candor.

(3)

 Playfully mischievous; roguish.

习惯用语

 on the sly
In a way intended to escape notice:
took extra payments on the sly.

语源

(1)

 Middle English sleigh

(2)

 from Old Norse sl?gr

继承用法

 sly“ly
adv.

sly“ness
n.

参考词汇

(1)

 sly, cunning, tricky, crafty, wily, foxy, artful, guileful

(2)

 These adjectives mean disposed to or marked by indirection or deviousness in the gaining of an end.

(3)

 Sly usually implies surreptitiousness, secretiveness, and lack of candor:
“You think he's open and blunt—he's as sly as a mink” (George W. Cable).

(4)

 Cunning stresses cleverness and ingenuity, often at the expense of moral principles:
“Cunning men pass for wise” (Francis Bacon).

(5)

 Tricky emphasizes shiftiness, deception, and absence of scruples:
Under the fa?ade of morality and patriotism can be perceived the false and tricky political opportunist that he is.

(6)

 Crafty suggests mastery of devious and underhanded methods or schemes:
Crafty plotters make the best intelligence agents.

(7)

 Wily suggests subterfuge or stratagem intended to entrap:
Her father was a wily old attorney.

(8)

 Foxy implies cunning and craft and usually long experience in the use of trickery:
The parvenu was much too foxy to let slip even a hint of his working-class background.

(9)

 Artful emphasizes adroitness in maneuvering to accomplish a purpose:
She won the case by her artful manipulation of the jury's emotions.

(10)

 Guileful suggests an insidious, often treacherous nature:
“a guileful tournament organizer who manipulates and dehumanizes athletes” (Jeremiah Tax).

英汉法学大词典

 on the sly
暗中

英汉航海大词典

 on the sly
prep.秘密地,偷偷摸摸地