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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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sly

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'sly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe people or their behaviors that are clever but in a way that is not completely honest. For example: "Tom has a sly way of getting what he wants without actually asking for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: Office employees should be on feet for four hours of working day, study says If you are reading this at your desk at work – perhaps on the sly while your boss has a loud conversation, or on the downlow while you avoid making an important phone call because for whatever reason you have to psych yourself up to make a phone call – stand up.

But I can't take a sly, disgusting reference to the Great Famine of 1845-1852, sometimes known as the potato famine.

Let us rather call it injustice, but of a sly effective order, based entirely on cruel knowledge of the resistance of the weak, their capacity for pain, humiliation and misery.

Shortly thereafter, a salacious video for Miley Cyrus's Adore You materialised, in which the singer runs a sly hand down her body to signify that she too will procure her own pleasure – a routine she's also decided to play up on her current Bangerz tour.

The first thing an out-of-work actor does upon returning home, even if it's only from the end of the garden for a sly fag, is to look at the answering machine.

News & Media

The Guardian

As ever, Brown lightens the whole effect with sly touches of humour: where you might expect to see lifebelts he has hung a row of scurvy-beating cabbages.

Dubost and Carette play a deliciously sly and comic cat-and-mouse game with the absurdly rigid Modot, especially during the after-dinner entertainment, a breathtaking sequence described by the critic Richard Roud as something from "a Marx brothers film scripted by a Feydeau who suddenly acquired a tragic sense".

No, more of a sly dig at George Osborne's self-defeating fiscal austerity which is dragging Britain back towards recession, Mandelson might say.

News & Media

The Guardian

At this distance the best we could agree about Trouble Every Day is that the sly and moody soundtrack by British band Tindersticks is superb.

Artistically, however, it pales beside the sly wit and beauty of Hu Wei's The Butter Lamp, in which a photographer's portraiture of Tibetan villagers gives way to a larger statement on cultural myopia.

Paul has been sly about positioning on this, however; at the Value Voters conference earlier this month, Paul gave a rousingly xenophobic speech heavy on Biblical allusions to Muslims' perfidy… he just declined to say we should bomb them.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "sly" with nouns that represent actions or expressions (e.g., "sly glance", "sly remark") to enhance the descriptive impact.

Common error

Avoid using "sly" when the intent is merely to describe something as clever without the implication of deception or mischief. Use "clever" or "ingenious" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The word "sly" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a quality of cunning, secretiveness, or mischievousness. Ludwig shows this in examples like "a sly dig" or "a sly glance". Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable word in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sly" is a common adjective used to describe something or someone cunning or mischievous in a subtle way. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in English. The analysis of examples reveals that "sly" is most often found in news and media contexts. When aiming for precision, writers should understand the subtle differences between "sly" and its synonyms such as "cunning" or "wily", as "sly" suggests a cleverness that avoids direct confrontation, whereas the others may imply a stronger intent to deceive. Understanding these nuances helps writers to enhance their expression and avoid common mistakes in word choice.

FAQs

How can I use "sly" in a sentence?

You can use "sly" to describe someone who is cunning and mischievous, such as, "He had a "sly grin" on his face as he planned his prank."

What words are similar to "sly"?

Words similar to "sly" include "cunning", "wily", and "artful". These words all suggest a cleverness that often involves deception.

Is it better to say "sly" or "sneaky"?

"Sly" and "sneaky" are similar, but "sly" often implies a cleverness or wit, while "sneaky" emphasizes the secretive and underhanded nature of the action. Use "sly" when the focus is on the cleverness and "sneaky" when the focus is on the secretiveness.

What is the difference between "sly" and "devious"?

"Sly" suggests a subtle cunning, while "devious" implies a more elaborate and often dishonest approach. "Devious" suggests a greater degree of manipulation and complexity than "sly".

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Source & Trust

91%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: