hugger-mugger

American  

[huhg-er-muhg-er] / ˈhʌg ərˌmʌg ər /

noun

1. disorder or confusion; muddle.

2. secrecy; reticence.

   Why is there such hugger-mugger about the scheme?

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adjective

1. secret or clandestine.

2. disorderly or confused.

verb (used with object)

1. to keep secret or concealed; hush up.

verb (used without object)

1. to act secretly.

hugger-mugger British  

/ ˈhʌɡəˌmʌɡə /

noun

1. confusion

2. rare secrecy

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adjective

1. with secrecy

2. in confusion

verb

1. (tr) to keep secret

2. (intr) to act secretly

Etymology

Origin of hugger-mugger

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier hucker-mucker, rhyming compound based on mucker, from Middle English mokeren “to hoard”

Example Sentences

Which is why in many instances the interests that Pinker dismisses as irrational hugger-mugger, everything from astrology to spiritualism, have tended to strengthen during periods of real scientific ferment.

From New York Times

It conveys the hugger-mugger of old and new better than any of the dire pronouncements that keep tumbling out of Mr. Carson’s mouth.

From New York Times

Take, for example, “The Naval Treaty,” about diplomatic hugger-mugger.

From Scientific American

Other clients used to worry that the pair were still too hugger-mugger.

From Economist

And yet, despite all of this the end result is still an anarchic hugger-mugger of concrete, brick, steel and glass, typified by cul-de-sacs full of double-parked cars, and arterial roads clotted with traffic jams.

From BBC