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sly

[/slaɪ/]
adjective
astuto
1. cunning or wily; characterized by stealth or secrecy
He gave a sly smile, knowing he had won.
Ele deu um sorriso astuto, sabendo que tinha vencido.
2. mischievously playful or humorous
She made a sly comment about his new haircut.
Ela fez um comentário malicioso sobre seu novo corte de cabelo.
3. operating or working in a subtle or unobtrusive way
The sly fox crept through the forest undetected.
A raposa astuta rastejou pela floresta sem ser detectada.
NYC Slang
slick, sneaky, smooth
Synonyms
cunningcraftywilydevioussneakytrickyartfulshrewd
Antonyms
honeststraightforwardopenguilelesssincerecandid

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
astuto, malandro, velhaco
astuto is most common; malandro implies clever deception
Rio de Janeiro
malandro, safo
malandro frequently used for cunning or streetwise behavior
São Paulo
astuto, safo
astuto preferred in formal contexts
Portugal
astuto, velhaco, ardiloso
velhaco emphasizes deviousness; ardiloso emphasizes cunning

Related Idioms & Phrases

on the sly - em segredo, às escondidas
a sly dog - uma pessoa astuta/malandra
sly as a fox - tão astuto quanto uma raposa
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