cloak-and-sword

[ klohk-uhn-sawrd ]

/ ˈkloʊk ənˈsɔrd /

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adjective

(of a drama or work of fiction) dealing with characters who wear cloaks and swords; concerned with the customs and romance of the nobility in bygone times.

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Origin of cloak-and-sword

First recorded in 1800–10

Words nearby cloak-and-sword

cloaca, cloacitis, cloak, cloak-and-dagger, cloak-and-suiter, cloak-and-sword, cloak fern, cloakroom, cloam, clobber, clobbering machine

How to use cloak-and-sword in a sentence

As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, Byrd—dead four-and-a-half years now—was a Kleagle in the Ku Klux Klan.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Later that night, that same black-and-red banner would be seen again—in the column of marchers chanting for dead cops.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The kids are out of school, Mom is out of get-up-and-go, Dad is out of work.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She also practises etching, pen-and-ink drawing, as well as crayon and water-color sketching.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
The men, whose poniards his sword parried, had recourse to fire-arms, and two pistols were fired at him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Whatever you do, don't write a word to that Carr friend of yours; he's as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
No law of that country must exceed in words the number of letters in their alphabet, which consists only in two-and-twenty.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
He stabbed her from beneath, and passed half of his sword through her body, and at that the poor lady fell.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various