• adj. 狡猾的；淘氣的；詭密的
• n. (Sly)人名；(英)斯萊

來自中古英語 sly,來自古諾斯語 sloegr,狡猾的，狡詐的，可能來自 Proto-Germanic*slogiz,活 潑的，敏捷的，狡猾的，來自 PIE*slak,擊打，攻擊，詞源同 slay,sleight.

sly

sly: [12] Etymologically, sly means ‘a(chǎn)ble to hit’. It was borrowed from Old Norse sl?gr ‘clever, cunning’, which went back ultimately to the prehistoric Germanic base *slakh-, *slag-, *slōg- ‘hit’ (source also of English slaughter, slay, etc). The word’s original approbatory connotations of ‘cleverness’ or ‘skill’ survived into the 20th century in northern dialects, but elsewhere they were soon ousted by the notion of ‘underhandedness’. More neutral associations linger on in sleight ‘dexterity’ [13] (as in ‘sleight of hand’), which was acquired from an Old Norse derivative of sl?gr.
=> slaughter, slay, sleight

sly (adj.)

c. 1200, "skillful, clever, dexterous," from Old Norse sloegr "cunning, crafty, sly," from Proto-Germanic *slogis (cognates: Low German slu "cunning, sly," German schlau), probably from base *slak- "to strike, hit" (see slay (v.)), with an original notion of "able to hit." Compare German verschlagen "cunning, crafty, sly," schlagfertig "quick-witted," literally "strike-ready," from schlagen "to strike." A non-pejorative use of the word lingered in northern English dialect until 20c. On the sly "in secret" is recorded from 1812. Sly-boots "a seeming Silly, but subtil Fellow" is in the 1700 "Dictionary of the Canting Crew."

1. He's a sly old beggar if ever there was one.

他確確實實是個老奸巨猾的家伙。

來自柯林斯例句

2. She is devious and sly and manipulative.

她陰險狡詐，會玩人。

來自柯林斯例句

3. He gave me a sly, meaningful look.

他心照不宣地看了我一眼，意味深長。

來自柯林斯例句

4. She darted a sly sideways glance at Bramwell.

她狡黠地從眼角瞥了布拉姆韋爾一眼。

來自柯林斯例句

5. His lips were spread in a sly smile.

他心照不宣地咧嘴一笑。

來自柯林斯例句