On the sly
On the sly adverb - In a furtive manner.
Private and on the sly are semantically related. in secret topic. In some cases you can use "Private" instead an adjective phrase "On the sly", when it comes to topics like sneaky, underground.
Private
Private adjective - Not known or meant to be known by the general populace.
On the sly and private are semantically related. You can use "On the sly" instead an adjective "Private".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- quiet and on the sly
- quiet and private
- secret and on the sly
- secret and private
- concealed and on the sly
- concealed and private
- hidden and on the sly
- hidden and private
- veiled and on the sly
- veiled and private
- underground and on the sly
- underground and private
- furtive and on the sly
- furtive and private
Both terms in one sentence
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It was considered a valuable way to inject some combat experience into what would otherwise be a purely peacetime officer corps, as well as build up some goodwill on the sly, while still being technically a private venture, and as such completely deniable.
Cite this Source
Private and On the sly. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/private
On the sly & Private. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/private>.
Private or On the sly. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/private.