Definition of on the sly

on the sly

adjective

• secretive.

  I'm hitting it on the sly.

                                                                                                                                                                                            
  
                                                   
  
  Citation from "All the Right Friends", Covert Affairs (TV), Season 2 Episode 4 (2011) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

  • See more words with the same meaning: quiet, secret.

  Last edited on Aug 11 2011. Submitted by B $oLo from St Louis, MO, USA on Mar 27 1999.

+	Add a definition for this slang term

Share Tweet E-mail	More info:	Interactive stats:
	R  Related words	Usage Vulgarity SlangMap

Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'quiet, secret':
on the DL	Definitions include: "on the down low", i.e. secret.
mum	Definitions include: mom aka "mother".
QT	Definitions include: "cutie."
DL, the	Definitions include: See on the DL.
back room	Definitions include: away from public scrutiny.
underground	Definitions include: secret.

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'on':
accidentally on purpose	Definitions include: seemingly accidental but with a secret motive.
a little on the side	Definitions include: secret sexual activity with a person other than one's partner.
a lot on (one's) plate	Definitions include: See on (one's) plate.
as much use as a handbrake on a canoe	Definitions include: useless.
as useless as tits on a boar hog	Definitions include: absolutely futile; pointless, worthless, inept or absurd; good-for-nothing or idiotic.
back on (one's) feet	Definitions include: doing better after an unfavorable event.
back on pipe	Definitions include: returned to one's meth or crack addiction.
bag on	Definitions include: to insult for fun; "make fun of".
bail on	Definitions include: to leave (a relationship) or abandon.
ball on	Definitions include: to attempt to attract verbally; "hit on".
bang on	Definitions include: to test something before it is released or presented.
barge in on	Definitions include: See barge in.
beast on	Definitions include: used to describe a person that is angry and is scolding at someone.
be in on	Definitions include: to be involved with.
be like flies on sh*t	Definitions include: to be present in large numbers.
(show 462 morehide)
Other terms relating to 'sly':
have a sly jib	Definitions include: to masturbate.
sly	Definitions include: For someone to exert themselves for the benefit of others in their social circle is 'sly'.
Other terms relating to 'the':
101 scoop, the	Definitions include: the real information or the proof, instruction, the know how, where, when, and why about something or someone.
2-10, the	Definitions include: walking, generally as opposed to driving.
3rd degree, the	Definitions include: interrogation.
3 sheets to the wind	Definitions include: extremely intoxicated
411, the	Definitions include: information.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.	Definitions include: something you have now is worth more than two things you have just a chance of getting.
about the size of it	Definitions include: a good estimate.
ace in the hole	Definitions include: a secret advantage.
across the board	Definitions include: inclusive.
add fuel to the fire	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.
against the clock	Definitions include: with the amount of time left to finish a task rapidly disappearing.
ahead of the curve	Definitions include: having an opinion or belief prior to it becoming common or popular.
aim Archie at the adamant	Definitions include: of a male, to urinate.
ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun	Definitions include: Someone being butthurt over having something, they do to others regularly, done to the them
a little on the side	Definitions include: secret sexual activity with a person other than one's partner.
(show 1409 morehide)

How common is this slang?

Don't click the following.
I use it	(8)
No longer use it	(0)
Heard it but never used it	(5)
Have never heard it	(4)

How vulgar is this slang?

Average of 8 votes: 18%  (See the most vulgar words.)

Least vulgar

Most vulgar

Your vote: None   (To vote, click the pepper. Vote how vulgar the word is – not how mean it is.)

Least vulgar

Most vulgar

Where is this slang used?

Logged-in users can add themselves to the map. Login, Register, Login instantly with Facebook.

Link to this slang definition

To link to this term in a web page or blog, insert the following.

<a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/on-the-sly">on the sly</a>

To link to this term in a wiki such as Wikipedia, insert the following.

[http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/on-the-sly on the sly]

Some wikis use a different format for links, so be sure to check the documentation.