spy on

Idioms and Phrases

Secretly or furtively observe someone or something, as in The children loved spying on the grownups , or The company sent him to spy on the competitor's sales force . [Early 1600s]

Example Sentences

Gen. William Barr arrest Biden, former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for what he claimed was a “treasonous plot” to spy on his 2016 campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

Analysts say France's decision to back Morocco's claim is an attempt to repair relations between the two nations, which had soured after Rabat was accused of attempting to spy on President Macron and France tightened visa restrictions for visiting Moroccan nationals.

From BBC

At the time, workers accused McDonald's of advising and coordinating with its franchisees to spy on union activity, circulate the names of pro-union workers and use illegal retaliation, including sudden firings, in its efforts to squash a union-organized campaign for a $15-an-hour wage.

From Salon

His critics accused him of using the intelligence service led by Vladimiro Montesinos to intimidate and spy on rivals.

From BBC

He added that the software, which can be installed remotely on mobile phones to access people's microphones and cameras, may have been used to spy on political rivals, including himself.

From BBC

Related Words

• stalk