/praʊl; praul/
v
1 (a) [I, Ip] ~ (about/around) move quietly and cautiously 小心地悄悄移动
*wild animals prowling in the forest 在森林里轻轻行走的野兽
* burglars prowling (around) in the grounds of the house 在房子的庭院里蹑足行走的窃贼.
(b) [Tn] move about, through or in (a place) in this way 悄悄行经（某处）
*thieves prowling the streets at night 夜里在街上鬼鬼祟祟的小偷.
2 [I, Ip] ~ (about/around) walk or wander restlessly 徘徊; 逡巡
*I could hear him prowling around in his bedroom all night. 我听到他整夜在卧室里踱来踱去.

n (idm 习语) (be/go) on the `prowl (be/go) prowling 小心而悄悄的移动; 徘徊
*There was a fox on the prowl near the chicken coop. 有只狐狸在鸡舍附近踅来踅去.
* (joc 谑) The soldiers went on the prowl hoping to meet some girls. 这些大兵逛来逛去, 希望碰上花姑娘.

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*The following verbs indicate the slow, quiet movement of people or animals who do not want to be noticed by others. 下列动词均表示人或动物为免受注意而做出的缓慢而无声的动作. They suggest a variety of reasons for this secrecy. 这些动词暗示的行动隐秘原因不尽相同. Prowl (about, around, etc) suggests a wild animal or criminal looking for food or for something to steal *prowl (about、around、etc)指野兽觅食或罪犯伺机行窃
*I saw someone prowling around among the trees. 我见有人在树林里鬼鬼祟祟地走动.
* Wolves prowled the forest in search of prey. 狼在森林里潜行觅食. Skulk (about, around, etc) refers to someone angrily or guiltily waiting out of sight, possibly intending to do something bad *skulk (about、around、etc)指含怒或含罪恶目的窥伺可乘之机
*He skulked around outside until the police had gone. 他窥探着四周, 直至见到警察走开. Lurk is used with similar meaning *lurk的意义大体相同
*Somebody's lurking in the bushes. 有人在灌木丛里窥视动静. A person slinks (off, away, etc) when he or she feels ashamed or frightened. 因羞怯或恐惧而悄悄走开用slink (off、away、etc). *It usually suggests that the head is low 此字通常含有垂头之意
*Don't slink away without apologizing. 不要不道歉就偷偷溜走.
* The dog slunk off to lick its wounds. 那狗耷拉着脑袋溜掉, 去舔伤口去了. People sneak in, out, etc when they are doing something wrong but not seriously criminal 偷偷摸摸做坏事, 但还够不上犯罪, 用sneak in、out、etc
*She was caught sneaking into the show without paying. 她不买票就想混进场内看演出, 被当场捉住. Sidle is to move furtively, especially if nervous about one's purpose *sidle指悄悄地移动, 尤含惴惴不安之意
*He sidled up/over to her and asked her to dance. 他忸忸怩怩走到她跟前请她跳舞.
* The boy sidled past the teacher and then ran out of the door. 那男孩怯生生地走过老师身边, 然後便一溜烟跑出门外. We steal, in, out, etc in great secrecy 偷偷地走动用steal in、out、etc
*She stole out of the house in the middle of the night. 她在半夜里偷偷地走出那所房子. Creep also suggests secrecy and, in animals especially, indicates a crouching position *creep亦指偷偷地或悄悄地走动, 并有蜷身或爬行之意, 尤用于动物为然
*The cat crept up on the bird and pounced. 那只猫悄悄地爬近那只鸟, 接着便猛扑过去. Tiptoe is the most neutral verb. *tiptoe最无褒贬区别. The purpose in tiptoeing may be to avoid disturbing other people 用这一动词可作为避免惊扰他人之意
*They tiptoed upstairs so as not to wake the baby. 他们踮着脚上楼, 生怕把孩子吵醒.