Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to forgo one’s pride and beg unashamedly, to curry favour, to be sycophantic towards.

1789		Thrale Thraliana ii May 8 745: Mrs Montagu wrote creeping Letters when She wanted my help [...] & then turned her Back upon me & set her Adherents to do the same: I despise such Conduct.
1911		F. Martyn Life in the Legion 45: Let it not be inferred [...] that I personally made my way in the Legion by means of ‘creeping,’ because that is very far from the truth.
1929		Geddes Mud on the Hoofs III i: I don’t creep, I don’t. Not for any woman.

2. to rob stealthily, to work as a sneak-thief; thus creeping n.

1914		Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Sl.
1941		V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 63: Just been pulled in for hotel creeping.
1965		D. Pearce Cool Hand Luke (1967) 86: Pulling five years for creeping the Miami mansion of Al Capone’s brother.
1976		(ref. to 1930s–70s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 206: Creep – To make an entrance from the roof.
1985		T.R. Houser Central Sl. 16: creepin, to be [...] A manner by which to commit a burglary. ‘When I do a burglary I be creepin.’.
1997		E. Little Another Day in Paradise 183: ‘Got a jewelry store and a dope connection.’ [...] ‘What’s the setup? Creep em [?]’.
2003		Simon & Burns ‘Port in a Storm’ Wire ser. 2 ep. 12 [TV script] We got paid by the can to creep shit off the docks.
2004		Guardian 23 Jan. 6: If they are creeping a ‘drum’ (house), aware that the residents are asleep upstairs, they will confine activities to downstairs.
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 281: A specialist scavenger, getting his tackle creeping City hotels.
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 202: Prior to the break-in he had discussed the possibility of creeping that particular crib.

3. (US) of a prostitute, to distract one’s customer while an accomplice slips into the room and rifles through his wallet; since he always has to pay in advance, he won’t check his money until they have parted; also attrib.; thus creeping n.

1928		M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 259: Panelling, or creeping, only carries eighteen months, because the John went to the room of his own accord.
1931		(con. 1900s) C.W. Willemse Behind The Green Lights 71: ‘Creep and panel’ cases were extremely difficult to handle for the victims seldom dared to complain.
1981		A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 114: You could start doin a little creepin [...] Basically it’s very simple. After the john takes his pants off, you make sure they’re hangin over a chair right near the door. Then when you’re workin him over, another ho [...] will creep into the room, slip out the wallet, take out the cake, and put the empty wallet back. If you’re doin your job, trick’s too busy to notice a thing.

4. (US black, also make a creep, pull a creep) to flirt, to make sexual advances, to have a clandestine meeting, usu. that between two adulterous lovers; thus creeping n.

1925		Odum & Johnson Negro and His Songs (1964) 173: I ask jailer, ‘Captain, how can I sleep? / All ’round my bedside polices creep.’.
1926		Odum & Johnson Negro Workaday Songs 63: When de dark comes, Lawd, / Dis nigger got to creep. / Creepin’ ’roun’, / Creepin’ in, / Creepin’ everywhere / A creeper’s been [...] When de dark comes, Lawd, / A chocolate gal I’ve found.’.
1938		D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam News 29 Jan. 19/2: Both male and female should study timetables before they go in for creepin’ just ’fore the break o’ day.
1953		Little Walter ‘Too Late’ 🎵 I’m tired of your deceivin’ and I can’t stand your creepin’, I’m gone.
1970		Current Sl. V:2 6: Creep, v. To sneak out to see someone of the opposite sex.
1971		H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: creep v. 1. to cheat on a friend; to twotime a person; e.g. She’s trying to creep on him.
1972		R.A. Wilson Playboy’s Book of Forbidden Words 80: To be unfaithful [...] making a creep or pulling a creep.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 140: Creep on a nigger’s woman! One of yo’ partners got a broad and you jus’ creep, go over dere and don’t let nobody know [...] Tha’s like committing adultery.
1999		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 2: creep – try to steal someone’s mate: ‘I saw you looking at my girl. Are you trying to creep me?’.
2002		Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry 🌐 creepin’ v. When a person is ‘sneaking around’, cheating on his or her boy/girlfriend.

5. (US black, also go on the creep) to sneak up on, to stalk someone with malicious intent.

1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 253: He was not above creeping on her while she dressed.
1973		(con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 86: Thae Tongs go on the creep nooadays, lyin in wait fur ye in yir close fur hours an’ jumpin’ ye when ye come hame.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 233: creep [...] 5. Sneak up on someone, often with assault or robbery in mind.
1988		NWA ‘Gangsta Gangsta’ 🎵 See a nigga on Daytons and we creep / Real slow and before you know / I had my shotgun pointed in the window.
2013		T. Piccirilli Last Whisper in the Dark 89: ‘You’ve checked my phone. You’ve been creeping me again’.

6. to ‘walk’, to escape punishment; to be let off.

1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 280: Knowing there’s a thin chance he’ll creep, says he’ll go for trial.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 225: Give yourself up. Box clever and I expect you’ll creep.

7. (US prison) to escape.

1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 207: Even those who managed to creep were reapprehended with stifling regularity.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 233: creep [...] 6. Steal away.

8. (US black teen) to go about one’s business surreptitiously and quietly.

1971		H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: creep v. […] 2. to leave. 3. to go to a place; e.g. I’m going to creep on down to the store.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 140: Creep on yo’ old man. You say you goin’ out wid d’ girls to d’ movies. Really you be out wid another brother.
1990		Eble Campus Sl. Nov. 3: creep – sneak around.
2016		Q. Vidal ‘Third Rail’ 🎵 Creepin’ in the night, fleekin’ on the mic.

9. (US campus) to go out on the town.

1975

G. Underwood ‘Razorback Sl.’ in AS L:1/2 57: creep vi Go out on the town at night.

10. (US black) to ride slowly in a car.

1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 233: creep [...] 4. Drive slowly, often with only parking lights on.
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 creep v [...] 2. to drive by in a car slowly with the driver’s seat reclined.

11. (US drugs) to sell marijuana.

1993

A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 10: Hangin’ out an’ creepin’ reefa around (nickel bag part reefa, part rug fibers dash oregano with a little roach spray f’ flavor).

12. (US campus) to follow someone by tracking them on social networks; thus n. creeper.

2012		C. Eble (ed.) UNC-CH Campus Sl. 2011 3: CREEP — follow someone via online social networks: ‘Hey, girl, sorry to be creeping, but I noticed your status said ‘working on Engl 313 homework’. I’m in there too.
2012		C. Eble (ed.) UNC-CH Campus Sl. 2011 3: CREEPER — someone who follows another via online social networks: ‘My mom knew about the party from looking at my profile pictures on Facebook. She is such a creeper.’ .