| Front | creep |
|---|---|
| Back | creep verb, noun BrE /kriːp/ NAmE /kriːp/ verb verb forms word origin example bank (crept, crept /BrE krept ; NAmE krept/) In the phrasal verb creep sb out, creeped is used for the past simple and past participle. 1 [intransitive](+ adv./prep.) (of people or animals) to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents. I heard someone creeping around the house. 2 [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (NAmE) to move with your body close to the ground; to move slowly on your hands and knees crawl 3 [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to move or develop very slowly Her arms crept around his neck. A slight feeling of suspicion crept over me. 4 [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (of plants) to grow along the ground or up walls using long stems or roots see also creeper 5 [intransitive] ~ (to sb) (BrE, informal, disapproving) to be too friendly or helpful to sb in authority in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them see make your flesh creep at flesh n. ˌcreep ˈin/ˈinto sth to begin to happen or affect sth As she became more tired, errors began to creep into her work. ˌcreep sb ˈout (creeped, creeped)(NAmE, informal) to make sb feel afraid, uncomfortable or disgusted He said the empty streets creeped him out. It's something that just plain creeps me out. ˌcreep ˈup to gradually increase in amount, price, etc House prices are creeping up again. ˌcreep ˈup on sb 1 to move slowly nearer to sb, usually from behind, without being seen or heard Don't creep up on me like that! 2 to begin to affect sb, especially before they realize it Tiredness can easily creep up on you while you're driving. noun word origin example bank 1 [countable] (informal) a person that you dislike very much and find very unpleasant He's a nasty little creep! 2 [countable] (BrE, informal) a person who is not sincere but tries to win your approval by being nice to you He's the sort of creep who would do that kind of thing! 3 [uncountable] (in compounds) (often disapproving) the development of a project beyond the goal that was originally agreed The World Bank has been accused of mission creep when seeking to address these concerns. The inclusion of health data on identity cards was condemned as function creep. give sb the ˈcreeps (informal) to make sb feel nervous and slightly frightened, especially because sb/sth is unpleasant or strange This old house gives me the creeps. |
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