under cover
Idioms-
Protected by a shelter, as in It began to pour but fortunately we were under cover . [c. 1400]
-
under cover of . Also, under the cover of . Hidden or protected by, as in They sneaked out under cover of darkness , or, as it was put in a sermon in 1751: “Presumption which loves to conceal itself under the cover of humility” (John Jortin, Sermons on Different Subjects ).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Machado has made at least two attempts to go back to Venezuela since she left in December 2025 under cover of darkness to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Military spokesperson Lt-Col Haruna M Sani described the assault on Boko Haram's Mandara mountain hideout, "under cover of darkness", as one of the military's "most significant hostage rescue operations" in the north-east.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
"It was a tacky wicket as it was under cover for a while. After losing a few wickets, it was tough to get back into the game."
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
As the sun went down and a phone notification warned of more rain, the women, donning elf aprons and Santa hats, scrambled to move the boxes under cover.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 25, 2025
But when I'd crept here under cover of darkness last week, an envelope'd been Sellotaped over the letter box.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
