Creep by Meaning in English
expression
ˈkɹip/ /ˈbaɪ
KREEP-BY
kɹˈiːp/ /bˈaɪ
k-REEP-b-EYE
Definition
To move past very slowly, often used to describe time passing slowly, or someone moving quietly and almost unnoticed.
Usage & Nuances
Often used to describe slow-moving time, like during boredom or waiting. Can also mean a person or thing moves quietly and almost unnoticed. Usually informal. Common with 'the hours/minutes creep by' or 'someone creeps by'.
Spanish: pasar lentamente - deslizarse (el tiempo)Portuguese (BR): passar devagar - passar arrastado (tempo)Portuguese (PT): passar devagar - arrastar-se (tempo)Chinese (Simplified): 慢慢过去 - 悄悄经过Chinese (Traditional): 慢慢過去 - 悄悄經過Hindi: धीरे-धीरे बीतनाArabic: يمر ببطء - يتسللBengali: ধীরে ধীরে পেরিয়ে যাওয়াRussian: медленно проходить - незаметно проходитьJapanese: ゆっくり過ぎる - そっと通り過ぎるVietnamese: trôi qua chậm chạp - đi lặng lẽKorean: 천천히 지나가다 - 살금살금 지나가다Turkish: yavaşça geçmekUrdu: آہستہ آہستہ گزرناIndonesian: berlalu perlahan-lahan - lewat pelan-pelan
Example Sentences
The minutes creep by when I am waiting for the bus.
basic
The night seemed to creep by because I couldn't sleep.
basic
He tried to creep by the sleeping dog without waking it up.
basic
During the boring meeting, the hours just seemed to creep by.
natural
I watched the cars creep by my window in the traffic jam.
natural
Summer used to creep by, but now it feels way too short.
natural