surreptitious
gb/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs/ us/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs/
C1
Anglais
titkos, sunyi, lopott
C1
FORMAL
1
Schéma d’usage :
a surreptitious [attempt/visit/operation]; surreptitious [activity/behavior]
The company made a surreptitious attempt to gather data from users without clear consent.
A cég titokban próbált adatokat gyűjteni a felhasználóktól egyértelmű hozzájárulás nélkül.
She took a surreptitious photo of the document while he was out of the room.
Titokban lefotózta a dokumentumot, amíg ő nem volt a szobában.
Police suspected the funds were moved through a surreptitious network of accounts.
Exemples pédagogiques
He made a surreptitious call during the meeting.
A megbeszélés közben titokban telefonált.
They had a surreptitious plan to leave early.
Volt egy titkos tervük, hogy korábban elmenjenek.
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with suspicious (making you think something is wrong) or superstitious (belief in luck/magic).
Sens
done secretly to avoid discovery
Collocations
surreptitious attempt
|surreptitious visit
|surreptitious operation
|surreptitious activities
|surreptitious behavior
|surreptitious deal
|surreptitious entry
|surreptitious access
|surreptitious surveillance
|surreptitious phone call
Synonymes
covert (More neutral and common in military/political contexts.)
|
clandestine (Often suggests organized secrecy and illegality.)
|
secret (More general; less specific about stealth or wrongdoing.)
|
sneaky (More informal and judgmental.)
|
underhanded (Emphasizes dishonesty or unfairness.)
Antonymes
open (Done without hiding it.)
|
overt (Clearly done and not concealed.)
|
aboveboard (Honest and transparent in business or dealings.)
|
public (Not private or hidden.)
Thèmes
secrecy
|crime_law
|behavior
|privacy
Définition
done secretly, often because it is wrong or not allowed
Done in a secret and stealthy way to avoid being noticed or discovered, especially because it is not allowed or is disapproved of.
C1
FORMAL
2
Schéma d’usage :
a surreptitious [glance/look/smile]; surreptitious [movement]
He shot her a surreptitious glance when the teacher turned to the board.
Lopott pillantást vetett rá, amikor a tanár a táblához fordult.
There was a surreptitious smile as they realized the joke had landed.
Lopott mosoly jelent meg az arcukon, amikor rájöttek, hogy betalált a poén.
She made a surreptitious check of her phone under the table.
Exemples pédagogiques
She gave him a surreptitious glance.
Lopott pillantást vetett rá.
He made a surreptitious smile.
Lopott mosoly jelent meg az arcán.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use surreptitious for ‘suspicious’; for people, it describes hidden actions, not a feeling of doubt.
Sens
furtive, trying not to be seen
Collocations
surreptitious glance
|surreptitious look
|surreptitious smile
|surreptitious peek
|surreptitious movement
|surreptitious nod
|surreptitious gesture
|surreptitious check
|surreptitious whisper
|surreptitious stare
Synonymes
furtive (Very close in meaning; often used specifically for quick looks.)
|
sly (Suggests clever secrecy, sometimes playful.)
|
stealthy (Focuses on moving quietly and avoiding detection.)
|
shifty (Often implies guilt or dishonesty; more negative.)
Antonymes
unselfconscious (Not trying to hide feelings or actions.)
|
candid (Open and direct, not secretive.)
|
obvious (Easy to see; not hidden.)
Thèmes
secrecy
|communication
|social_life
Définition
trying to hide what you are doing, especially with a quick look
Quietly secretive and trying not to attract attention, especially when describing looks, smiles, or small movements.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
surreptitious
API
GB/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs/
US/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs/
Syllabes et accentuation
sur - repti - tious (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (repti)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: surreptitious
Expressions
a surreptitious affair
1/ə sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs əfˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
a secret romantic relationship
a secret relationship
Exemples
- They carried on a surreptitious affair for months before anyone noticed.
- Rumors spread about a surreptitious affair within the office.
- The novel follows a surreptitious affair during wartime.
Exemples pédagogiques
- They had a surreptitious affair.
a surreptitious glance
1/ə sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs ɡlˈæns/
fixed phrase
formal
a quick secret look
a quick look that you try to hide
Exemples
- He took a surreptitious glance at his watch during the long speech.
- She gave a surreptitious glance toward the door to see if anyone was coming.
- I caught him stealing surreptitious glances at my notes.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He took a surreptitious glance at his phone.
- She gave a surreptitious glance at the door.
a surreptitious meeting
1/ə sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs mˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
a secret meeting
a meeting that is kept secret
Exemples
- Reporters alleged a surreptitious meeting between the lobbyist and the minister.
- They arranged a surreptitious meeting after work to discuss the plan.
- The surreptitious meeting was discovered through phone records.
Exemples pédagogiques
- They had a surreptitious meeting.
- He arranged a surreptitious meeting with her.
surreptitious entry
1/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs ˈɛntɹi/
fixed phrase
formal
entering a place secretly
entering a place secretly, often illegally
Exemples
- Investigators found signs of surreptitious entry through a side window.
- The report describes a surreptitious entry into the office after hours.
- Security cameras captured the surreptitious entry but not the suspect’s face.
Exemples pédagogiques
- There was surreptitious entry into the building.
surreptitious recording
1/sˌɚəptˈɪʃəs ɹɪkˈɔɹdɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
recording made secretly
a recording that someone makes secretly
Exemples
- The manager was accused of making a surreptitious recording of staff conversations.
- A surreptitious recording of the call was later shared online.
- The court excluded the surreptitious recording from evidence.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Someone made a surreptitious recording of the meeting.