On the sly
On the sly adverb - In a furtive manner.
Secret and on the sly are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Secret" instead an adjective phrase "On the sly".
Secret
Secret adjective - Undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others.
On the sly and secret are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "On the sly" instead an adjective "Secret".
Mutual synonyms
Both terms in one sentence
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In The Secret Agreement, the Hanayashiki family is incredibly respected, but having lost the family head and much of their fortune during the last war, they've been slowly having to sell off valuable possessions on the sly to generate income.
Source: Impoverished Patrician
Cite this Source
Secret and On the sly. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/secret
On the sly & Secret. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/secret>.
Secret or On the sly. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/on_the_sly/secret.
