sneak in

sneak in

1. To enter (some place) in a quiet, sneaky, inconspicuous, or furtive manner, so as not to be detected. The burglar snuck in without making a sound. Marty got caught sneaking in to the house way past his curfew.
2. To transport someone or something in (to something or some place) in a surreptitious, deceitful, or stealthy manner, especially when it is illegal or forbidden to do so. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "sneak" and "in." My cousin tried to sneak me in to the club, even though I was only 18 years old. They were thrown out of the school dance for sneaking in bottles of alcohol.
3. To insert or include using sly, subtle, or surreptitious means something that is normally forbidden, unwanted, or frowned upon. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "sneak" and "in." The show's writers always try to sneak jokes in that would normally get rejected by the network censors. When I was writing my midterm paper, I managed to sneak in a quotation from a video game. I have to sneak vegetables in to my kids' meals, or else they simply won't eat them.
See also: sneak

sneak in(to some place)

To enter some place in a quiet, sneaky, inconspicuous, or furtive manner. The burglar snuck in without making a sound. Marty came sneaking into the classroom, late as usual.
See also: sneak
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sneak in(to some place)

to enter a place quietly and in secret, perhaps without a ticket or permission. The kids tried to sneak into the rock concert, but they were stopped by the guards. Never try to sneak in. Sometimes they arrest you for trespassing.
See also: sneak
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • sneak in(to some place)
  • slink into (some place)
  • slink in
  • slink out
  • slink away
  • slink off
  • sneak out
  • sneak out (of some place)
  • slunk
  • slink about
References in periodicals archive
The thieves, who sneak in while people are at home, have fled with items including wallets, purses, mobile phones and car keys.
* CRIME WARNING - Householders have been warned to lock up or risk losing out by police as part of a new drive to prevent sneak in burglaries.
It is estimated that a third of all break-ins in Birmingham happen because criminals are able to sneak in through unlocked doors and windows.
With the warmer weather there has been a recent increase in premises and vehicles being left insecure by the owners/occupiers and a subsequent rise in sneak in burglaries by opportunist thieves - as is evident from the incidents highlighted in our Crimewatch columns.
There has been a "significant" rise in the number of so-called 'sneak in' burglaries in the Aston, Erdington, Nechells and Washwood Heath areas in the hot spell over the past few weeks.
"Even if they sneak in and steal the keys from one house, the car stolen later would be worth thousands of pounds.
Officers will also distribute advice leaflets providing practical information and a security checklist to help residents prevent 'sneak in' burglaries.
One in four burglaries is a 'sneak in' - mainly through doors which have been left either unlocked or open.