Sneaking something with 目を盗む
目を盗む means to act while someone is not watching. Depending on the context, it can mean “behind someone’s back” or “slip past”.
Literal Meaning
A literal translation is to “steal the eyes”.
Usage Notes
The person acts while someone else is not watching, usually to avoid detection or punishment. Depending on the act, the phrase can sound mischievous or underhanded.
In 〜の目を盗んで, the noun before の names the person whose notice the subject avoids.
Dictionary Definition
人に見つからないように、こっそりする。
Do it secretly, so that people don't find out.
Goo Dictionary
Further Reading
- 目を盗む｜体の慣用句 (edewakaru.com)
Examples
Sneaking sleeping pills in with 目を盗む
Idiom Explanation: Sneaking something with 目を盗む
As Ran sleeps, she’s carried to a sink filled with water and almost drowned. After, Conan considers the coffee Ran drank earlier must have been drugged, or else Ran would have fought back. Since Mrs. Yone, who prepared the coffee with Ran’s help, was with Kogoro at the time of the attack, Korogo narrows the list of suspects to four who were out of sight while the coffee was being prepared.
- 小五郎:
- 「という事は、あなた方の中の誰かが米さんと蘭の目を盗んで睡眠薬を入れたとも考えられますな？」
- “Considering that, isn't it possible one of you slipped past Mrs. Yone and Ran and put sleeping pills in?”