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On the sly

 

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.


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  #1
Old November 23, 2010, 05:49 AM
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On the sly

I think one term is a la chita callando.
I would like to know if this phrase is international, and if there are other ways of saying this.
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  #2
Old November 23, 2010, 06:25 AM
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"A la chita callando" is unknown to me. I think "a hurtadillas" may be a good translation.
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Old November 23, 2010, 06:51 AM
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It's good in Spain.
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  #4
Old November 23, 2010, 11:46 AM
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It's used in Mexico too.
"Disimuladamente" could be a way of saying it more neutrally.
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Old November 23, 2010, 04:05 PM
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Agree with Robin, (for Spain)
A la chita callando. = En secreto o sin llamar la atención.
"A escondidas" or "a hurtadillas" is probably the most "universal" or like Angelica says, "disimuladamente" "con disimulo [y astucia]" "sigilosa y sutilmente"...

I believe "a hurtadillas" is a bit more literary than "a escondidas".

Also,
furtivamente, clandestinamente, de forma sibilina, a escondidas, de estranjis... por detrás de la cortina, callandito, callando, a cencerros tapados, confidencialmente, bajo cuerda, o por debajo de cuerda, encubiertamente, escondidamente, a escondidas, de matute [bootleg]... etc.
These are a bunch of synonyms that could be used with different connotations... one could start a thread for each, if you wanted, to see all the different nuances... but they all share the same basic idea.
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