sly man

USAGE SUMMARY

'sly man' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is knowing and canny and who might be up to something. Example: He's a sly man, so beware of trusting him too easily.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

At some point, as they move from home to home, taking whatever they please, a brave boy will leap out from behind his mother's skirts and try to overpower the short, sly man.

The New Yorker

This short, sly man leaned on the Coca-Cola hoarding that marked the entrance to the village and raised a hand in friendly greeting, while his companion took the small stick that he had, up to that point, been chewing, threw it on the ground, and smiled.

The New Yorker

She refused to meet Mackay in person but wrote to him describing Stirner as a very sly man whom she had neither respected nor loved, and claiming that their relationship together had been more of a cohabitation than a marriage.

SEP

It was a sly man – someone who can destroy a game with niggly fouls and wind up opponents but never, ever get more than a yellow card.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If you love your country, or even just think it is not such a bad place, do not hand it to sly men who betray the best of the English, while seeking to incite the worst in us.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Don't get wistful on me," says a sly old man in Michael Chabon's sly new novel, his first big serious one since the best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning "Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," seven long years ago.

The New York Times - Books

"All of a sudden, you just hear this snickering from the corner, and everybody's like, 'What?' "Sly goes, 'Man you've got to take it.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'No, you've got to take a real punch.'" Legally, Jordan couldn't be asked to take a punch, yet he willingly went for it, adding there may have been "peer pressure" but concluding "the hit is pretty epic".

Independent

He was a sly, funny man, and he'd sit in the back room and watch me — a smart-aleck nineteen-year-old — performing out front, and he'd laugh and say, when I came off, 'What are you doing to these people?' I got a job in Los Angeles with Mike Reilly — 'The Music Goes Around and Around and It Comes Out Here' Reilly — in the Radio Room.

The New Yorker

The unique -- and sometimes comical -- partnership between sly con man Neal Caffrey Matt Bomerr) and FBI Agent Peter Burke Tim DeKayy) has kept viewers coming back for more season after season, week after week.

Huffington Post

An hour into the flight, Mr. Hernandez, a handsome, street-sly young man, started writing a letter on an airsickness bag.

The New York Times - Style

"I'm an innocent man!" Sly yells above the tumult at the end of the act, as he and Able are hauled off to jail on what appears to be a rape charge.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add greater clarity, follow "sly man" with a specific detail or action that exemplifies the man's slyness. This provides concrete evidence for the descriptor and enhances the reader's understanding.

Common error

Avoid generic descriptions. Saying someone is a "sly man" without showing how they are sly weakens your writing. Instead, illustrate their slyness through actions, dialogue, or internal thoughts to make the description impactful and believable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sly man" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. The adjective "sly" modifies the noun "man", attributing a quality of cunning or secretiveness. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sly man" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression, as affirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a descriptive noun phrase, characterizing an individual as cunning or deceptive. While its register is generally neutral, it tends towards informality and may be replaced with more professional synonyms in certain contexts. Usage examples in Ludwig highlight its application across diverse fields. To enhance clarity and impact, showing rather than telling a character’s slyness adds depth to the description. Overall, while it's not a super common phrase, it holds a specific place in the English lexicon for describing a particular type of individual. The phrase is more frequent in News and Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cunning fellow

Replaces "sly" with "cunning" and "man" with "fellow", altering both words while maintaining a similar connotation of cleverness, often with a negative undertone.

crafty individual

Substitutes "sly" with "crafty" and "man" with "individual", emphasizing skill in deception or manipulation in a less gendered way.

shrewd operator

Replaces "sly" with "shrewd" and "man" with "operator", conveying intelligence and astuteness, especially in business or politics.

wily character

Changes "sly" to "wily" and "man" to "character", suggesting deceptiveness and resourcefulness gained through experience.

deceptive person

Replaces "sly" with "deceptive" and "man" with "person", directly highlighting the act of misleading others in a neutral way.

artful dodger

Substitutes "sly man" with a more figurative expression implying someone who avoids trouble through cleverness and trickery, drawing from literary associations.

sly dog

Replaces "man" with "dog", which serves as a metaphor for a deceitful or cunning person.

cagey bloke

Changes "sly" to "cagey" and "man" to "bloke", indicating a cautious and secretive nature, typical for someone who is protective of information.

underhanded guy

Replaces "sly" with "underhanded" and "man" with "guy", emphasizing dishonesty and unfair tactics.

slick customer

Changes "sly" to "slick" and "man" to "customer", conveying confidence, charm, and potentially untrustworthiness.

FAQs

How can I describe someone similar to a "sly man"?

You could use phrases like "cunning fellow", "crafty individual", or "shrewd operator" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does the term "sly man" imply about someone's character?

The term "sly man" suggests that someone is cunning, clever, and possibly deceptive, often implying a degree of untrustworthiness or secretiveness.

Is it appropriate to use the term "sly man" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "sly man" might be too informal for academic or highly professional contexts. Consider alternatives like "shrewd operator" or "crafty individual" for a more neutral tone.

How do I show, rather than tell, that a character is a "sly man"?

Instead of stating that someone is a "sly man", describe their actions, expressions, and interactions that reveal their cunning or deceptive nature. Show them subtly manipulating situations or withholding information to achieve their goals.