(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. 
[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.> prowl 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.
prowler n person or animal that prowls 悄悄行走的人或动物.
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 usedwith similar meaning *lurk的意义大体相同: Somebody'slurking 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, 尤用於动物为然: 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.