peep (redirected from peeping)

*peep

a quick look at someone or something. (*Typically: have ~; take ~.) Have a peep into the refrigerator and see if we need any milk. I took a peep at the comet through the telescope.

hear a peep out of someone

Fig. to get some sort of a response from someone; to hear the smallest word from someone. (Usually in the negative.) I don't want to hear another peep out of you. I didn't know they were there. I didn't hear a peep out of them.

See also: hear, out

peep at someone or something

to get a glimpse of someone or something, as if looking through a hole. I peeped at Tom through the Venetian blinds. Look in the microscope and peep at this bacterium.

peep in(to something)

to get a quick look into something, as through a hole in the wall or something similar. I peeped into the oven to see what was cooking for dinner. She opened the oven door and peeped in.

peep out (of something) (at someone or something)

to sneak a glimpse of someone or something out of something, as through a hole. A little mouse peeped out of its hole at the bright lights in the room. Johnny, hiding in the closet, peeped out at the guests through the partly opened door.

See also: out

peep over something

to raise up and sneak a glance over some barrier; to look over the top of something. The child peeped over the wall to get a look at the yard next door. Grandfather peeped over his glasses to look at the television set for a moment.

peep through something

to take a quick glance through something, such as a hole, telescope, etc. Sam peeped through the keyhole and saw that the room was dark. Peep through the telescope and have a look at the moon!

See also: through

peep under something

to take a quick little glance under something. Would you please peep under the table and see if my shoes are there? Dave peeped under the bed, looking for the cat.

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a peeping Tom

a man who secretly watches women while they are taking their clothes off or having sex I always close the curtains in case there are any peeping Toms across the road.

See also: tom