cloak-and-dagger

[ klohk-uhn-dag-er ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or dealing in espionage or intrigue, especially of a romantic or dramatic kind.

cloak-and-dagger

noun

1. modifier characteristic of or concerned with intrigue and espionage

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloak-and-dagger¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

But there is something to be learned by the cloak-and-dagger world from Yousef and Ben Yitzhak.

From The Daily Beast

Disney's key contact was the consummate cloak-and-dagger operator, William "Wild Bill" Donovan.

From The Daily Beast

He went on to say that he was the intended target because of all his cloak-and-dagger work inside Iran.

From The Daily Beast

Plame, the cloak-and-dagger CIA veteran, took a slightly different position.

From The Daily Beast

You risked your life on cloak-and-dagger missions; let the shore-bound fancy dans do the drudgery.

From Project Gutenberg

It has been said of Time, earlier in these pages, the cloak-and-dagger sort he is, that stalks and pounces.

From Project Gutenberg

He climbed out, standing alongside the bed in his shorts, wondering at the Colonel's cloak-and-dagger approach.

From Project Gutenberg

"And Cardon's gone completely cloak-and-dagger-happy," she continued.

From Project Gutenberg

Joe said politely: “I heard there was cloak-and-dagger stuff going on.”

From Project Gutenberg