hole-and-corner

[ hohl-uhn-kawr-ner ]

adjective

1. secretive; clandestine; furtive:

   The political situation was full of hole-and-corner intrigue.

2. trivial and colorless:

   She was living a hole-and-corner existence of daily drudgery.

hole-and-corner

adjective

1. informal.
   usually prenominal furtive or secretive

Word History and Origins

Origin of hole-and-corner¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Related Words

• clandestine
• covert
• furtive
• hush-hush
• unauthorized