I often get confused about which one to use. Example:
He sneaked [...] to the rear of the ship.
Or maybe all of them have a different connotation?
-
2Both away and off imply he left his current location and compatriots inconspicuously, without anyone noticing. By contrast, into means he got inside of the back of the ship without anyone noticing, likely because he wasn't supposed to be there. The former put emphasis on where he's leaving; the latter on where he's arriving. There is a subtle difference between away and off; the latter has a friendlier, more mischievous tint (perhaps he's headed for a secret tryst). The former has a stronger sense (though not absolute) of misconduct or transgression (e.g. escaping a prison).– Dan BronCommented Apr 11, 2015 at 13:27
-
2But if you're going to be using the verb in a derogatory way (and there is very little other way to use it), the plural is snuck in the US (there may be some confusion with slunk). I'd say He snuck away (which indicates that there is a direction of sneakage) to (to indicate that direction; if he reached it -- towards if not) the rear of the ship. Also, if cover is involved, snuck around to is OK. Snuck off or snuck away, on the other hand, just mean leave in a sneaky way, any direction. You can sneak into a closed space like a yard or a room. But only sneakily.– John LawlerCommented Apr 11, 2015 at 13:51
-
@JohnLawler Agreed, but don’t you mean that snuck is the past not the plural?– tchrist ♦Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 14:01
-
@tchrist: Whoops. Quite right, sorry. There are just too damn many grammatical terms that start with P. I blame the Romans.– John LawlerCommented Apr 11, 2015 at 14:59
-
1@JohnLawler - Nah, it was those damn Phoneticians.– Hot LicksCommented Apr 11, 2015 at 18:19
|
Show 2 more comments
1 Answer
Sneak denotes stealthy movement:
verb (past and past participle sneaked or informal , chiefly North American snuck)
1 [NO OBJECT, WITH ADVERBIAL OF DIRECTION] Move or go in a furtive or stealthy way:
Various directional adverbs can refine the sense of stealthy movement:
- In He sneaked away to the rear of the ship, away suggests motion from the point of reference--a literal or metaphorical distance:
adverb
1.0 To or at a distance from a particular place or person:
she landed badly, and crawled away...1.1 At a specified distance:
when he was ten or twelve feet away he stopped1.2 At a specified future distance in time:
the wedding is only weeks away1.3 Towards a lower level; downwards:
in front of them the land fell away to the river1.4 Conceptually to one side, so as no longer to be the focus of attention:
the Museum has shifted its emphasis away from research towards exhibitions
- In He sneaked off to the rear of the ship, off also suggests motion from the point of reference:
1.0 away from the place in question; to or at a distance:
the man ran off1.1 Away from the main route:
turning off for Ripon3.0 Starting a journey or race; leaving:
we’re off on holiday tomorrow
- In He sneaked into the rear of the ship, into expresses motion to enclosure--literal or metaphorical:
preposition
1.0 Expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else:
cover the bowl and put it into the fridge2.0 Expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something makes physical contact with something else:
he crashed into a parked car3.0 Indicating a route by which someone or something may arrive at a particular destination:
the narrow road which led down into the village
Oxford Dictionaries Online
