- (disapproving)
acting or done in a secret or dishonest way, often intending to trick people 诡诈的；狡诈的 a sly political move 诡诈的政治手段 - (humorous)
You sly old devil! How long have you known? 你这个老滑头！你知道有多久了？ She’s a sly one—never lets on what she’s thinking. 她心机很深，从不让别人知道她在想什么。
- [usually before noun]
suggesting that you know something secret that other people do not know 诡秘的（表示自己知道别人不知道的秘密） a sly smile/grin 狡黠的微笑/笑容
Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘dexterous’): from Old Norse slœgr ‘cunning’, originally ‘able to strike’ from the verb slá.