• SNEAK
n. 1. a schoolchild who tells tales or informs on his or her fellows …1840 UK school sl.
n. 2. a soft-soled shoe; a running shoe; a trainer …1862 UK sl.
vb. 1. to tell tales; to inform on; orig. of a child: to tell a teacher about the wrongdoings of another pupil …1897 Brit. sl.
vb. 2. to break into a building …1949 US sl.
vb. 3. to show a movie unexpectedly to an audience in order to assess its appeal …1960s US movie studio usage
• SNEAK-AND-PEAK
adj. 1. designed to be quiet …1973 US sl.
adj. 2. undertaken for the purpose of reconnaissance …1974 US sl.
• SNEAK A PEAK
vb. to take a look at something or someone …1999 US sl.
• SNEAKBILL
adj. mean, paltry, sneaking …1611 obs.
n. a term of contempt; a mean, paltry, sneaking fellow; a starved or thin-faced person …1562 obs.
• SNEAKER
n. 1. a private or surreptitious drink …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a smuggler …1956 US sl.
n. 3. a person engaged in an illegal enterprise who does not pay a regular bribe to the police but does when confronted …1973 US sl.
n. 4. a linear amplifier for a citizens’ band radio …1977 US sl.
n. 5. in hot rodding or motor racing: an usually large tire …1992 US sl.
• SNEAKER BITCH
n. a person who is too focused on conspicuous consumption, such as high priced trainers …1989 US sl.
• SNEAKERNET
vb. in computing: to carry a disk from one computer to another …1991 US sl.
• SNEAKERS
n. 1. 1967 Amer. dial. – eyeglasses
n. 2. Bk1998 sl. – tires
n. 3. 2003 US sl. – car wheel rims
• SNEAK GO
n. any secretive action …1989 Aust. sl.
• SNEAK-IN
n. a bar that surreptitious remains open after the legal closing time …1951 US sl.
• SNEAKINS-MEAKINS
adj. mean …1905 Amer. dial.
n. a mean person …1905 Amer. dial.
• SNEAK JOB
n. housebreaking …1996 UK sl.
• SNEAK ONE OVER (ON)
vb. to cheat; to deceive …L19 sl., orig. US
• SNEAK OUT ON
vb. to be sexually unfaithful to one’s mate or spouse …20C US colloq.
• SNEAKS
n. rubber-soled sports shoes …1895 Amer. sl.
• SNEAKSBY
n. a mean-spirited person; a cowardly, creeping scoundrel; a paltry fellow; a sneak …1580 rare
• SNEAKY
adj. 1. 1833 – underhanded or secretive
adj. 2. 1914 Amer. dial. – fussy or finicky about eating
adj. 3. 1982 US sl. – used of a recording device, easily hidden
• SNEAKY BEAKY
adj. spying …1995 UK sl.
n. a spy …1995 UK sl.
• SNEAKY MAN
n. a married woman’s adulterous sexual partner …1982 Bahamas sl.
• SNEAKY PETE
n. 1. 1943 Amer. sl. – a cheap fortified wine sold in pint bottles called ‘jugs’
n. 2. 1943 Amer. sl. – any cheap and inferior wine
n. 3. 1947 US sl. – inferior liquor, often homebrewed; moonshine; any potent, potentially fatal, alcoholic concoction, favoured by those whose need outweighs their ability to pay
n. 4. 1955 US sl. marijuana mixed in wine
n. 5. 1963 US sl. – an unannounced in-flight examination by a crew that boards the plane just before take-off
n. 6. 1968 Amer. dial. – a furtive, underhanded person
n. 7. 1990 US sl. – a member of a US Army long-range reconnaissance patrol unit
n. 8. 1993 US sl. – in pool: an expert player’s custom cue, designed to look like an ordinary cue
• SNEAP
vb. 1854 Amer. dial. – to prowl, to sneak; to spy
• SNECK
n. 1851 Amer. dial. – a latch
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to latch
• SNEEDER
n. a dragonfly …1950 Amer. dial.
• SNEETERED
adj. 2005 Amer. dial. – tricked; deceived
• SNEEZE
n. 1. 1938 Amer. dial. – a short interval of time; a short distance
n. 2. 1981 US sl. – pepper
n. 3. 20C Brit. sl. – old term for snuff
n. 4. 20C US euphemism – a release of intestinal gas, esp. if forceful
vb. 1950 US sl. – to arrest someone
• SNEEZE AND SQUEEZE
n. cocaine and sex …1984 US sl.
• SNEEZED
adj. arrested; kidnapped …1996 UK sl.
• SNEEZE EVERY TIME ANOTHER TAKES SNUFF
vb. to follow another’s lead in servile fashion …Bk1913 Amer. dial.
• SNEEZE-HORN
n. 1. a snuff-box made of the tip of a horn …1806 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the nose …B1900 Eng. dial.
• SNEEZE IN THE BASKET
n. an act of cunnilingus …20C US sl.
• SNEEZE-LURK
n. a style of robbing where a robber would blow snuff into a victim’s face …19C Brit. sl.
• SNEEZE OUT
vb. to confess …1996 UK sl.
• SNEEZER n. 1. a snuffbox …Brit. sl.
n. 2. something excellent …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 3. the nose …1945 US sl.
n. 4. a jail or prison …1953 US sl.
n. 5. in marketing: a person whose opinion the listens to and trusts …2000 US sl.
• SNEEZING POWDER
n. heroin …1958 US sl.
• SNEFU
n. “Situation Normal, Everything Fucked-Up” – describing a situation where everything is confused as usual
• SNEPE
adj. foolish, silly …a1250 rare
• SNERTING
n. sexual harassment by men …1990s Amer. sl.
• SNIB
vb. to possess carnally …Bk1903 sl.
• SNIBBLE
n. a scrap; a small piece …1950 Amer. dial.
• SNIBBLE-NOSE
n. 1. 1746 Eng. dial. – one who sniffs
n. 2. 1746 Eng. dial. – one who would save even the droppings of his nose; a term of reproach for a mean-spirited, covetous person; a niggardly miser
n. 3. 1777 Eng. dial. obs. – a nose that requires wiping; a snotty nose
• SNIBBLING
adj. 1927 Amer. dial. – dark, cloudy, rainy
• SNICH
n. 1. the nose …L17 UK criminals’ sl.
n. 2. a blow on the nose …L17
n. 3. an informer …L18 sl.
n. 4. a contemptible person …1910s sl.
• SNICKELTYFRITZ
n. a mischievous little boy; a scamp, a rascal; usually used endearingly …1916 Amer. dial.
• SNICKETYFRITZ
n. a mischievous little boy; a scamp, a rascal; usually used endearingly …1916 Amer. dial.
• SNICKLEFRITZ
n. a mischievous little boy; a scamp, a rascal; usually used endearingly …1905 Amer. dial.
• SNICKET
n. 1. a miser, a stingy, saving person …1703 Eng. dial. obs.
n. 2. a pert, saucy, forward girl; a term of reproach for a little girl; a naughty child; a dirty, careless, impudent woman …1867 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a very small piece of anything; anything small and insignificant …1887 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a short distance …1888 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a narrow passage between buildings; an alley …B1900 Eng. dial.
• SNICKLE
vb. 1881 Amer. dial. – to snicker
• SNICK-UP
int. an exclamation of contempt … begone, away with you, go and be hanged …1601 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 1. a hangman’s rope, a halter …1623 obs. rare
n. 2. a sneeze, a sneezing fit …1692 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 3. a hiccup …1829 Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 4. an indefinable illness, not easily cured; a slight ailment …1830 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to hiccup …B1900 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to sneeze …B1900 Eng. dial.
• SNIDDY
adj. of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory …1890 sl.
• SNIDDYDID
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a grasshopper
• SNIDE
adj. 1. false, counterfeit, sham, bogus; hence, mean, contemptible, underhand; nasty, esp. in an insinuating way …1859 UK
adj. 2. of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory …1890 sl.
adv. secretly; deceitfully …2002 UK sl.
n. 1. counterfeit jewellery or money …1885 sl.
n. 2. sixpence … Bk1903 sl.
n. 3. a cheat or swindler …1919 sl.
n. 4. a stolen pearl …1933 Aust. sl.
n. 5. a cunning person; an untrustworthy person; a wretched man; a hateful fellow; a contemptible person; an informer: a two-faced, underhand person; someone who isn’t what he seems; a phony; a mean, dishonest person …E20 sl.
n. 6. a nasty remark; a side-swipe; a back-stabbing below-the-belt comment …Brit. sl.
• SNIDER
n. a tailor …L17 sl.
• SNIDEY
adj. 1. false, counterfeit, sham, bogus; hence, mean, contemptible, underhand …1859 UK
adj. 2. of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory …1890 sl.
adj. 3. sneering; disdainful; contemptuous …1964 UK sl.
• SNIDEY UP
vb. to adulterate drugs; to prepare fake drugs for sale …1996 UK sl.
• SNIDY
adj. of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory …1890 sl.
• SNIFF
n. 1. a small amount; a bit …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. cocaine, a dose of cocaine …M20 US drug culture sl.
n. 3. drugs in general; a dose of drugs …M20 US drug culture
n. 4. a sycophant …1968 US sl.
n. 5. any solvent that can be inhaled for its psychoactive effect …1974 US sl.
n. 6. a girlfriend …2002 UK sl.
vb. to inhale or sniff cocaine; to ingest drugs by nasal inhalation …1925 UK sl.
• THE SNIFF
n. a recreational hunt for sexually attractive company …1998 UK sl.
• SNIFFED-UP
adj. under the influence of cocaine …1999 UK sl.
• SNIFFER
n. 1. the nose …1858 sl.
n. 2. a cocaine user or addict; a person who inhales drugs or chemicals …1920s US drug culture sl.
n. 3. a handkerchief …1945 US sl.
n. 4. an ampoule of amyl nitrite …1970 US sl.
n. 5. a claims investigator of unemployment and other benefit fraud …1982 UK sl.
n. 6. a device placed on a vehicle’s exhaust pipe to measure the pollutants in the emission …1993 US sl.
n. 7. a computer program that surreptitiously records user passwords and other log-in data …1994 US sl.
n. 8. an outsider who tries to be part of the pornography industry …1995 US sl.
• SNIFFER AND SNORTER
n. a reporter …1998 UK rhyming sl.
• SNIFFER BAG
n. small bag of heroin intended for inhaling …2002 US sl.
• SNIFFINGS
n. any industrial solvent that is inhaled for its psychoactive effect …1984 US sl.
• SNIFFING SNOW
n. cocaine …2000 UK sl.
• SNIFFLER
n. 1. a strong, smart, or brisk breeze or wind …1768
n. 2. a trifler, a driveller …B1900 Sc.
• SNIFFLES
n. a slight cold characterized by nasal congestion and discharge …1825 sl.
• SNIFF OUT
vb. to seek as if by following a scent …1940s Amer. sl.
• SNIFF QUEEN
n. a homosexual who is a heavy user of amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite during sex …1972 US sl.
• SNIFFY
adj. scornful, disdainful; haughtily fastidious; fault-finding …1871 sl.
• SNIFTER
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
n. 1. 1844 US – a small drink of alcoholic liquor; hence, a brandy glass; generally, a glass for spirits
n. 2. 1893 Amer. dial. – a nose
n. 3. 1925 Amer. drug culture sl. – a cocaine user or addict
n. 4. 1930 US drug culture sl. – a single inhaled dose of cocaine
n. 5. 1950 Amer. dial. – one who takes snuff by sniffing it up the nose
• SNIFTY
adj. 1. disdainful, haughty, conceited, fault-finding; petty, mean …1871 Amer. sl.
adj. 2. having a pleasant or agreeable smell …1891 Amer. sl.
adj. 3. excellent; first-rate …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. an insignificant person …1660 Sc. obs.
• SNIFTY-SNIDEY
adj. a slang expression for supercilious, disdainful …B1900 Eng. dial.
• SNIG
vb. to drag something heavy by means of ropes or chains …1897 Aust. sl.
• SNIGGLEFRITZ
n. 1905 Amer. dial. – a mischievous little boy; a scamp, a rascal; usually used endearingly
• SNILCH
vb. 1676 cant obs. – to eye or see someone or something; to look at anything attentively; to watch closely
• SNIP
n. 1. 1890 UK sl. – something that is easily achieved or done; a certainty; a simple task
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – an insignificant person
n. 3. 1926 UK sl. – a bargain; something cheap
n. 4. 1952 UK sl. – a thing that is more fortunate, excellent, or pleasing that might normally be expected
n. 5. 1970 UK sl. – a ticket collector
vb. 1989 Aust. sl. – to borrow money on short notice
• THE SNIP
n. 2001 UK sl. – any invasive medical procedure that sterilises a patient, as a vasectomy, etc.
• SNIPCOCK
n. 1950s Brit. sl. – a male Jew
• SNIPE
n. 1. E17 Brit. – a term of contempt
n. 2. 1889 Amer. dial. – a cigarette or cigar butt
n. 3. 1916 Amer. dial., jocular usage – a mosquito
n. 4. 1920 US Navy usage – an engine-room hand, aircraft mechanic, or other below-decks crew member
n. 5. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a gullible person; a dupe
n. 6. 1969 US sl. – the butt of a marijuana cigarette
n. 7. 1979 Northern Ireland sl. – a sniper’s hide
n. 8. 2002 UK sl. – the nose
vb. 1. 1909 sl., chiefly Amer. – to steal or take without permission
vb. 2. 1933 Amer. dial. – to snoop; to spy on someone
vb. 3. 1980 US sl. – to disparage someone
• SNIPE-HUNTER
n. 1882 Amer. dial. – a person who picks up cigar or cigarette butts from the street
• SNIPE-SHOOTER
n. 1891 Amer. dial. – a person who picks up cigar or cigarette butts from the street
• SNIPER
n. 1. 1965 Amer. dial. – a cigar or cigarette butt
n. 2. 1982 Bahamas sl. – a sexually promiscuous girl of limited intellect
n. 3. 2001 US sl. – a person who posts inflammatory attacks on the Internet
• SNIPOCRACY
n. the tailoring profession, or its leading members …1861
• SNIPPER-SNAPPER
adj. small, insignificant …B1900 Eng. dial.
n. a small, insignificant, conceited fellow; an impertinent youth; an effeminate young fellow …c1590 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• SNIPPET
n. 1. a bit …M17
n. 2. copulation …20C Brit. sl.
n. 3. the female genitals …20C Brit. sl.
• SNIPPLE
n. a scrap; a small piece …1948 Amer. dial.
• SNIPPY
adj. 1. parsimonious …18C UK
adj. 2. impatient, argumentative …1848 US sl.
• SNIPS
n. any cutting tool, as scissors or wire cutters …1962 US
• SNIPSLE
n. a scrap; a small piece …1950 Amer. dial.
• SNIPTIOUS
adj. 1827 Amer. dial. – spruce, attractive; fastidious; lively, pert
• SNIRP
n. an insignificant person …19C Brit. sl.
• SNIRT
n. 1957 Amer. dial. – a stormy mixture of snow and dirt
vb. 1957 Amer. dial. – to precipitate as a mixture of snow and dirt
• SNIRTLE
n. 1834 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a suppressed laugh; a sneer
vb. 1785 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to laugh in a quiet, suppressed, or restrained manner; to snigger; to sneer
• SNIT
n. 1. 1867 Amer. dial. – a small amount
n. 2. 1939 US sl. – a fit of angry agitation; a mild temper tantrum; a fit of sulking
n. 3. 1999 Can. sl. – among Nova Scotians of German descent: an apple slice
• SNITCH
n. 1. a1700 sl. – the nose
n. 2. a1700 sl. – a blow on the nose
n. 3. 1785 UK sl. – an informer, esp. a police informer
n. 4. 1900s Aust. & NZ sl., mainly juvenile – a person or anything considered notably excellent, attractive, strong, etc.
n. 5. 1905 Amer. dial. – a contemptible person; one who is petty, stingy, or mean
n. 6. 1912 Amer. dial. – a small amount; a bit
n. 7. 1940s NZ sl. – grudge, hostility, bad feeling
n. 8. 1940s NZ sl. – a grudge
n. 9. 2002 UK sl. – a piece of information supplied by a police informer
vb. 1. L18 sl. – to inform, to betray, to turn King’s/Queen’s evidence
vb. 2. Bk1902 thieves’ sl. – to see, to watch; to spy
vb. 3. 1904 sl. – to steal, to take
vb. 4. 1990s Aust. sl. – to arrest
vb. 5. 1992 Norfolk Island sl. – to shoot a marble
• SNITCH-ASS
adj. 1980s African-American sl. – untrustworthy, tale-telling
• SNITCHBALL
n. 1990s US prison sl. – any game played by those inmates, among them informers, who live in protective segregation
• SNITCH BOX
n. 1992 US prison sl. – an in-house prison post box
• SNITCH-CAT
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a child who is always telling on other children
• SNITCHEL
n. L17 sl. – a blow on the nose
vb. L17 sl. – to hit on the nose
• SNITCHER
adj. 1930s Aust. & NZ sl. – first-rate, excellent, attractive
n. 1. L18 sl. – a member of a set of fashionable young men or ‘bloods’
n. 2. L18 – an informant; a telltale
n. 3. 1900s Aust. & NZ sl. – a person or anything considered notably excellent, attractive, strong, etc.
n. 4. 1900s sl. – a detective
n. 5. 1930s African-American sl. – a newspaper reporter or columnist, a writer
n. 6. 1930s sl. – a petty thief
n. 7. 1940s NZ sl. – a dislike; a grudge; hostility; bad feeling
n. 8. 1950 US sl. – a metal detector
• SNITCHERS
n. M19 Sc. – handcuffs, esp. strings used in place of handcuffs
• SNITCHES
n. L19 sl. – handcuffs
• SNITCHING
adj. 1. E19 sl. – informing
adj. 2. 1930s US sl. – stealing
• SNITCHING-RASCAL
n. 19C sl. – an informer
• SNITCH JACKET
n. 1973 US sl. – a reputation for being an informer
• SNITCH KITE
n. 2000 US prison sl. – a note sent by a prisoner to prison authorities, informing on other prisoners
• SNITCHOFF
vb. 18C – to inform, to betray
• SNITCHOUT
vb. 18C – to inform, to betray
• SNITCH-PAD
n. 1930s African-American sl. – a notebook
• SNITCH-RAG
n. 1940s sl. – a handkerchief
• SNITCH-SHEET
n. 1930s African-American sl. – a newspaper
• SNITCHY
adj. 1. 1905 Amer. dial. – mean, stingy
adj. 2. 1970s NZ sl. – tetchy, ill-tempered, irritable
• SNITE ONE’S SNITCH
vb. L18 sl. – to wipe one’s nose
• SNIT-FIT
n. a fit of angry agitation
• SNITS
n. 1848 Amer. dial. – slices or sections of fruit, esp. apples dried in slices
• SNITTY
adj. 1978 US sl. – bad-tempered
• SNITZ
n. 1886 Amer. dial. – slices or sections of fruit, esp. apples dried in slices
• SNITZY
adj. 20C US sl. – elegant, smart, snazzy, excellent
• SNIV
int. E19 sl. – nonsense! humbug! rubbish!
vb. E19 sl. – to hold one’s tongue
• SNIVER • SNIVVER
prep. 1860 Amer. dial. – immediately after
• SNIVY
n. 1911 Amer. dial. – a contrary or unreasonable person
• SNIZZLE
vb. 1910s sl. – to have sexual intercourse
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Updated: February 28, 2023
Lexicophilia 