verb
sidle
SYDL
verb
1
To move sideways, often in a shy, cautious, or sneaky way.
"He sidled up to the counter, hoping no one would notice him."
"She sidled out of the meeting before anyone could ask her a question."
How to Use Sidle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo edge sideways somewhere quietly or shyly.
Common pairings
sidle up to
sidle away
Word Forms
sidled past tense, sidles plural, Sidles plural, sidles singular
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He _____ up to the counter, hoping no one would notice him.
Etymology
Likely a back-formation from the older adverb "sideling" ("in a sideways direction"), reshaped with the "-le" verb ending.