creep

creep¹ [kri:p] v past tense and past participle crept [krept]

[I always + adverb/preposition]

[: Old English; Origin: creopan]

1.) to move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attention

creep into/over/around etc

▪ Johann would creep into the gallery to listen to the singers.

▪ He crept back up the stairs, trying to avoid the ones that creaked.

2.) if something such as an insect, small animal, or car creeps, it moves slowly and quietly

→↑crawl creep down/along/away etc

▪ a caterpillar creeping down my arm

3.) to gradually enter something and change it

creep in/into/over etc

▪ Funny how religion is creeping into the environmental debate.

4.) if a plant creeps, it grows or climbs up or along a particular place

creep up/over/around etc

▪ ivy creeping up the walls of the building

5.) if mist, clouds etc creep, they gradually fill or cover a place

creep into/over etc

▪ Fog was creeping into the valley.

6.) BrE informal to be insincerely nice to someone, especially someone in authority, in order to gain an advantage for yourself

creep (up) to sb

▪ I'm not the kind of person to creep to anybody.

7.) sb/sth makes my flesh creep

used to say that someone or something makes you feel strong dislike or fear

▪ His glassy stare made my flesh creep.

creep up on / [creep up on sb/sth] phr v

1.) to surprise someone by walking up behind them silently

▪ Don't yell - let's creep up on them and scare them.

2.) if a feeling or idea creeps up on you, it gradually increases

▪ The feeling she had for Malcolm had crept up on her and taken her by surprise.

3.) to seem to come sooner than you expect

▪ Somehow, the end of term had crept up on us.

creep ²

creep² n

1.) informal especially AmE someone who you dislike extremely

▪ Get lost, you little creep!

2.) BrE informal someone who tries to make you like them or do things for them by being insincerely nice to you

▪ Don't try and flatter her - she doesn't approve of creeps.

3.) give sb the creeps

if a person or place gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous and a little frightened, especially because they are strange

▪ That house gives me the creeps.

4.) mission/cost/grade etc creep

when something gradually starts to go beyond what it was intended to deal with or include

▪ He denied that giving civilian tasks to the NATO forces was a case of mission creep.