conceal one's tracks; act secretly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to conceal one's tracks; to go into hiding
literaryOften used in literary or formal contexts to describe the secretive actions of people (often criminals, spies, or those with ill intentions) to avoid detection. The term carries a slightly negative or suspicious connotation.
Àn案
fā发
hòu后
，
zhǔ主
fàn犯
lì立
jí即
qián潜
zōng踪
nì匿
jì迹
。
After the crime occurred, the principal culprit immediately concealed his tracks and went into hiding.
Wèi为
le了
duǒ躲
bì避
zhuī追
bǔ捕
，
tā他
zhǐ只
néng能
qián潜
zōng踪
ér而
xíng行
。
In order to evade capture, he had to move secretly.
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Zhè这
ge个
jiàn间
dié谍
zǔ组
zhī织
shàn善
yú于
qián潜
zōng踪
，
jí极
nán难
bèi被
fā发
xiàn现
。
This spy organization is adept at concealing its tracks and is extremely hard to detect.
Tā他
qián潜
zōng踪
duō多
rì日
，
zhōng终
yú于
zài在
yī一
gè个
xiǎo小
cūn村
zhuāng庄
bèi被
zhǎo找
dào到
。
He had been in hiding for many days and was finally found in a small village.