American Idioms – Idiom Wizard Lists Over 5,500 Idioms & Slang Descriptions

On the sly

DEFINITION

Secretly. Hiding one’s activities. Manipulating a process for personal gain.  ‘Sly’ suggests that one is hiding one’s actions which are knowingly contrary  to a group’s interest, usually for personal gain or revenge.

“Before I was fired, I was stealing office supplies on the sly from the office.”

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