having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature 狡猾的 she had a sly personality. 她个性狡诈。 ■(of a remark, glance, or facial expression) showing in an insinuating way that one has some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing (言语,眼光,面部表情)诡异的,狡黠的 he gave a sly grin. 他狡黠地咧嘴一笑。 ■(of an action) surreptitious (动作)偷偷摸摸的 a sly sip of water. 偷偷喝了一小口水。
常用词组 on the sly
in a secretive fashion 偷偷地 she was drinking on the sly. 她偷偷地喝酒。
派生 slyly adverb
(亦作 slily)
slyness noun 语源
Middle English (also in the sense 'dexterous'): from Old Norse slægr 'cunning', originally 'able to strike' from the verb slá; compare with sleight