Definition
偷偷摸摸 is a four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning 'on the sly, furtively, stealthily'. It describes actions done in secret, often implying the person is trying to avoid being discovered. The literal meaning is 'stealthy-stealthy-touch-touch', but the actual usage is always as an adverb or predicate adjective with a negative or sneaky connotation.
r.f.
furtivelystealthilyon the sly
Examples
- 偷偷摸摸，。Tā tōu tōu mō mō de zǒu jìn bàngōngshì, méi rén fāxiàn.He sneaked into the office, and nobody noticed.
- 偷偷摸摸。Nà liǎng gè xuéshēng tōu tōu mō mō de zài jiàoshì hòumiàn shuōhuà.Those two students were whispering furtively at the back of the classroom.
- 偷偷摸摸，。Bié zài tōu tōu mō mō de zuò shì le, guāngmíng zhèngdà duō hǎo.Stop doing things on the sly; being open and aboveboard is much better.
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