hole-and-corner

Also hole-in-cor·ner

[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

The thing was reported, and though the Tories sneered at it as a hole-and-corner meeting, Farthingale held another view.

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The splendid plans, the world-embracing schemes with which he had dazzled her, had shrunk indeed into a hole-and-corner effort to save his own skin.

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When there is real variety, what may be called hole-and-corner work,—conspiracy,—influence of sect or clique,—are impossible.

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There is no getting out of it now," remarked the Professor, with a rueful face; "and I don't think you have improved matters by getting married in this hole-and-corner way.

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For the Gideonites were one of those strange enthusiastic hole-and-corner sects that spring up naturally in the outlying suburbs of great thinking centres.

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Related Words

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