sidle

[ sahyd-l ]

verb (used without object)

, si·dled, si·dling.

1. to move sideways or obliquely.
2. to edge along furtively.

noun

1. a sidling movement.

sidle

/ ˈsaɪdəl /

verb

1. to move in a furtive or stealthy manner; edge along
2. to move along sideways

noun

1. a sideways movement

Derived Forms

• ˈsidler, noun

Other Words From

• sidling·ly adverb
• un·sidling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sidle¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; back formation from sideling (earlier spelling sidling misconstrued as present participle of a verb ending in -le )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sidle¹

C17: back formation from obsolete sideling sideways

Example Sentences

Apart from enjoying the spectacle, many will appreciate the chance to sidle up to India’s most influential business family at the bar.

From New York Times

As Gefter writes, during the initial Broadway run, starring Uta Hagen and Arthur Hill, the playwright kept having to sidle up to director Alan Schneider to remind him of the material’s inherent humor: “Funny. Humor. Funny.”

From Los Angeles Times

A middle-aged man is trying to enjoy his lunchtime fish and chips on the Hastings seafront when a colony of half a dozen herring gulls - better known as seagulls - sidle up to him, trying to steal a bite.

From BBC

Coppins writes that “Every time he publicly criticized Trump, it seemed, some Republican senator would smarmily sidle up to him in private and express solidarity. ‘I sure wish I could do what you do,’ they’d say, or ‘Gosh, I wish I had the constituency you have,’ and then they’d look at him expectantly, as if waiting for Romney to convey profound gratitude.”

From Slate

The wig, which hung limply above a label stating that it had traveled to Paris from the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh had a cheap, synthetic shine to it: an item that should have been innocuous, but was so evocative of its owners’ personality that it seemed as if it were about to crawl off its display board, sidle up to one of the older, less well-known wigs in the cabinet, and start making undermining remarks.

From New York Times

Related Words

• saunter