sneak up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tiếp cận mà không bị thấy hoặc nghe

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

If you sneak up from behind like that, you'll give me a heart attack!

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To deliver a sudden effect, often unexpectedly and without warning.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Đưa lại một tác động đột ngột, thường đột nhiên và không cảnh báo

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sneak up” mean?

To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard

Is “sneak up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.