hugger-mugger
- adjective
- /ˈhʌɡər ˈmʌɡər/
- Archaic
- He prefers to keep his plans hugger-mugger to avoid unwanted attention.
Examples
-
The documents were discovered during a hugger-mugger investigation into the company’s finances.
-
The meeting was held in a hugger-mugger atmosphere.
-
He disliked the hugger-mugger arrangements that surrounded their meetings.
-
Plans for the new palace were drawn up in considerable hugger-mugger.
-
She was involved in a hugger-mugger scheme to keep the project details under wraps.
-
The committee's discussions about the budget were conducted in a hugger-mugger manner.
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They planned the surprise party in a hugger-mugger way to keep it a secret from him.
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
117
6.8
Done secretly to avoid being seen or known
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
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
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
A secret feeling or thought you do not tell others
A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts
Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant
Antonyms
How Secretive
Surface Forms
Etymology
The phrase hugger-mugger began as a rhyming expression meaning 'secretly' or 'quietly', with hugger + mugger giving a hidden, whispering feel. That's why when something is called hugger-mugger it often means it was done in a 'secret' or hidden way.