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

Example Sentences

There was to be no hole-and-corner business about the great coup.

From Project Gutenberg

But this hole-and-corner way of doing warfare damps all enthusiasm and stifles recruiting.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you think Paula Varick is the kind of girl to practice hole-and-corner meetings at museums or restaurants?

From Project Gutenberg

Deny him any playground but a hole-and-corner court, and you'll find that he'll betake himself to hole-and-corner games in it.

From Project Gutenberg

The call might not come, of course; the war might be short, a hole-and-corner affair soon ended.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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