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View synonyms for hugger-mugger

hugger-mugger

[ huhg-er-muhg-er ]

noun

  1. disorder or confusion; muddle.
  2. secrecy; reticence:

    Why is there such hugger-mugger about the scheme?



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

/ ˈhʌɡəˌmʌɡə /

noun

  1. confusion
  2. rare.
    secrecy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

  1. with secrecy
  2. in confusion
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to keep secret
  2. intr to act secretly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hugger-mugger1

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

Origin of hugger-mugger1

C16: of uncertain origin
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Example Sentences

But they were taking no steps for this purpose; they were content with social hugger-mugger.

Mr Bethany tossed the hugger-mugger of pamphlets across the table.

Still, everything drifts on to these hugger-mugger large enterprises; Chicago spreads over the world.

They can't do it,—by Act of Parliament,—except in a hugger-mugger left-handed way, that wouldn't suit you at all.

All that set you were brought up in—why, one only had to look at them to see what a hugger-mugger way they probably lived.

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