creeping in
See also: creeping-in
English
Noun
creeping in (plural creepings in)
- An instance of something creeping in.
- Alternative form: creeping-in
- 1833 November, “The Life of a Faithful Minister”, in B[ela] B[ates] Edwards, editor, The American Quarterly Register, volume VI, number 2, Boston, Mass.: Perkins, Marvin, & Co., […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 90:
- Many a tear does he shed, because the creepings in of animal nature prevent his preparation for the Sabbath, and make him wrestle against the world with a puny arm. His disorders throw a sombre veil over his spirit, like the drapery of death.
- 1846, Thomas Worsley, “The Way of Alms”, in The Province of the Intellect in Religion Deduced from Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, […], book II (Examination of the Sermon on the Mount, […]), London: John W. Parker, […], →OCLC, page 371:
- For the habit or practice of doing kind and merciful Acts is a thing so real, and so apparently a part of ourselves, that we are thrown off our guard, and disposed to be less careful about our motives in doing them; and even to fancy that the influence of a good example may well make amends for any little creepings in of ostentatious motives.
- 1929, John Merriman Gaus, “Some Direct and Indirect Expressions of Civic Attitudes”, in Great Britain: A Study of Civic Loyalty (Studies in the Making of Citizens), Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, →OCLC, page 294:
- The conscious efforts to develop cultural ties with other peoples are not so successful, perhaps, as more quiet creepings in of foreign influences. For the former must be confined to a group of those most interested. Thus the English Speaking Union, the Sulgrave Foundation, the Society of Pilgrims are interested in the ties between Britain and the United States of America.
- 2013 March 15, Bel Mooney, quoting a reader, “I'm furious at my boyfriend for having his ex to stay in his flat”, in Daily Mail[1], London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 March 2013:
- I am a senior teacher responsible for the pastoral care of girls . . . fully aware of the ease with which pornography is accessed by pupils with smartphones. My colleagues and I have noticed the creeping in of a “porn culture” in the way girls in particular are behaving.
- 2013 June 21, Cardiff Garcia, “State-contingent policy works best when you know the states on which policy is contingent”, in Financial Times[2], London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC:
- So I didn't like the creeping in of a calendar date. I think we've had a lot of trouble with our calendar dates for forward guidance in the past.
- 2022 March 16, Andy Bitter, “Virginia Tech pre-spring takeaways: Can Hokies change culture? Plus Devon Hunter’s status, Connor Blumrick’s role, more”, in The Athletic[3], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 September 2025:
- He wanted players to care about winning and not accept what he thought was a creeping in of the alternative.
Verb
- present participle and gerund of creep in