hole-and-corner
- adjective
- Archaic
- The hole-and-corner way in which their businesses are conducted gives one a feeling of distrust, and they bear a name for utter unscrupulousness if they find themselves in a bad way.
Examples
-
His hole-and-corner dealings raised suspicions among the community.
-
The politician was known for his hole-and-corner methods to bypass regulations.
-
They conducted their hole-and-corner meetings in a hidden basement to avoid scrutiny.
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Hidden so other people do not know about it
243
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
153
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
125
1.1
A thing that is not easily seen or found
101
4.4
Acting in a secret way to avoid being noticed or to get an advantage
71
4.9
A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings
42
7.0
Not willing to tell others about something
40
8.2
Kept secret because it is illegal or not allowed
28
6.0
Most people do not know about it
19
6.3
Acting quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
18
5.7
Not willing to speak or give information
15
4.2
A private meeting or place that people keep secret
13
7.5
People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed
7
8.5
Done secretly because people would disapprove
5
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
1
7.5
People in power keep it secret to hide a problem
1
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
1
9.9
Seeming secret and a little dangerous as if hiding in the shadows
Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant
Done in a secret way to hide plans
Kept secret and not told to other people
Not willing to tell people private things
Antonyms
How Secretive
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Hole-and-corner comes from an old phrase that used the words hole and corner to mean 'in holes and corners', or in small hidden places out of sight. So a hole-and-corner activity is secretive and often a little shady because people keep it away from everyone.