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
374
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
136
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
129
6.8
Done secretly to avoid being seen or known
111
4.4
Acting in a secret way to avoid being noticed or to get an advantage
75
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
31
6.0
Most people do not know about it
26
7.5
People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed
19
6.3
Acting quietly and secretly to avoid being noticed
9
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
8
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
7
6.3
A secret feeling or thought you do not tell others
7
8.5
Done secretly because people would disapprove
1
9.9
Seeming secret and a little dangerous as if hiding in the shadows
1
7.5
People in power keep it secret to hide a problem
1
9.9
Hidden and small, often secret and unimportant
A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts
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.