noun
stealthy steps; tiptoeing
Walking quietly and carefully to avoid being noticed. Often used with で to describe the manner of moving.
泥棒は忍び足で家の中に入った。
The burglar entered the house with stealthy steps.
赤ちゃんが寝ているので、忍び足で部屋を出た。
Since the baby was sleeping, I tiptoed out of the room.
抜き足 is often paired with 差し足 (さしあし) in the phrase 抜き足差し足, describing a specific stealthy walking technique where the foot is lifted and placed silently. 忍び足 is a more general term for stealthy walking.
こっそり is an adverb meaning 'secretly' or 'stealthily', focusing on the covert nature of an action. 忍び足 specifically refers to the manner of walking quietly.
Compound of 忍び (しのび, 'sneaking') + 足 (あし, 'foot, step').