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sich einschleichen

creep in · sneak in

Unbemerkt und leise an einen Ort kommen oder in etwas langsam und kaum merklich entstehen.

Definition & meaning

sich einschleichen is a reflexive verb that generally means to creep, sneak, or steal into a place or situation. It is used in two primary contexts:

  1. Physical movement: To enter a place quietly, secretly, or without being noticed, often with the intention of avoiding detection.
  2. Abstract/Figurative: To enter a process, text, or system unnoticed. This is commonly used when errors, mistakes, or bad habits gradually find their way into something despite care being taken to avoid them. For example, if a typo appears in a document, you would say it "slipped in."

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a reflexive verb (sich). It is formed from the prefix ein- (meaning "into" or "in") and the verb schleichen (to creep or sneak).

  • Grammar: It is a strong verb. The conjugation follows: ich schleiche mich ein, du schleichst dich ein, er/sie/es schleicht sich ein. The past tense (Präteritum) is schlich sich ein, and the perfect tense (Perfekt) uses sein as the auxiliary verb: hat sich eingeschlichen.
  • Origin: The root schleichen relates to slow, quiet, and careful movement. Adding the prefix ein- narrows the meaning to the act of sneaking into a specific boundary.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • hineinschleichen : To sneak into something.
  • sich hineinmogeln : To sneak or cheat one's way into something.
  • eindringen : To penetrate or break into (usually more forceful than einschleichen).
  • sich einschmuggeln : To smuggle oneself into a place.
  • unterlaufen : Used specifically for errors that have slipped into a text or calculation.

Antonyms:

  • sich entfernen : To remove oneself from a place.
  • hinausschleichen : To sneak out of a place.
  • aufdecken : To uncover or expose (the opposite of sneaking in unnoticed).

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Examples

Es schlichen sich heimlich einige Fehler ein.other

Some errors secretly crept in.

Die Katze schleicht sich leise ins Haus ein.other

The cat sneaks quietly into the house.

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