Sly
/slaɪ/
Definitions
Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature; not straightforward or open.
/slaɪ/
Showing cleverness and trickery.
The sly fox outsmarted the hounds.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend is trying to pull a prank on you, and they have a sneaky grin. They're being sly, trying to trick you in a clever way!
👶 For kids: When someone is sly, they're a little sneaky and clever, like a fox trying to get food.
More Examples
She had a sly way of getting what she wanted.
His sly remarks often masked his true intentions.
How It's Used
"He had a sly grin on his face as he planned his surprise."
"The fox in the fable was known for its sly behavior."
Idioms & expressions
sly dog
A person who is cunning and deceitful.
"That sly dog tried to sell me a faulty car!"
From Old Norse *slógr* ('cunning, clever').
The word 'sly' has been used since the 14th century to describe someone with cunning or deceitful behavior.
Memory tip
Think of a fox, known for its sly (clever but tricky) hunting strategies.
Word Origin
"clever, cunning"