snake

A long, thin animal with no legs that moves along the ground; some kinds have a poisonous bite.

• A snake moved through the grass.
• Some snakes can give a dangerous bite.
• Have you ever held a snake?

Similar words: serpent

Common phrases: poisonous snake, snake bite, pet snake, snake skin

A person who lies or secretly acts against people who trust them.

• Don't trust him; he's a snake.
• That snake told everyone my secret.
• She called her former partner a snake.

Similar words: traitor, backstabber

Common phrases: a real snake, such a snake

A long, flexible tool pushed into a pipe to remove things blocking it.

• The plumber used a snake.
• Push the snake slowly into the drain.
• This snake can reach deep inside the pipe.

Similar words: drain auger

Common phrases: drain snake, plumbing snake, use a snake

A person who secretly gives information about others to the police or another authority.

• The gang thought he was a snake.
• Someone accused her of being a police snake.
• They searched for the snake who had reported them.

Similar words: informer, snitch, rat

Common phrases: a police snake, such a snake

To move or continue along a path with many curves.

• The road snakes through the hills.
• A long queue snaked around the building.
• We watched the river snaking across the plain.

How to use it: snake through/around/along something (The path snakes around the lake.)

Similar words: wind, twist

Common phrases: snake through something, snake around something, snake along something

To clear a blocked pipe with a long, flexible tool.

• We need to snake the drain.
• The plumber snaked the kitchen pipe.
• Have you tried snaking the toilet?

Similar words: clear, unblock

Common phrases: snake a drain, snake the toilet, snake a pipe

To take someone else's things secretly and without permission.

• Someone snaked my phone.
• He snaked a few coins from my bag.
• Did you snake my headphones?

Similar words: steal, swipe, nick

Common phrases: snake someone's phone, snake someone's money

To secretly tell the police or another authority about someone's wrongdoing.

• He swore he hadn't snaked.
• Someone snaked them out to the police.
• The gang threatened anyone who snaked.

How to use it: snake someone out (They feared he would snake them out.)

Similar words: inform, snitch, rat

Common phrases: snake someone out, snake to police