creep up on sb/sth phr v [T] 1 to surprise someone by walking up behind them quickly 〔为了使某人吃惊〕悄悄从后面靠近: I wish you wouldn't creep up on me like that! 我希望你不要像那样悄悄从后面走近吓我一跳！ 2 to happen sooner than you expect, or when you are not expecting something to happen 比预期早地发生; 不知不觉地发生: Old age tends to creep up on you. 人们总是不知不觉就变老了。