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
801
1.1
A thing that is not easily seen or found
374
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
173
7.0
Not willing to tell others about something
136
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
111
4.4
Acting in a secret way to avoid being noticed or to get an advantage
103
4.2
A private meeting or place that people keep secret
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
17
5.7
Not willing to speak or give information
9
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
9
8.9
Kept secret and not told to other people
8
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
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
1
8.3
Not willing to tell people private things
Done in a secret way to hide plans
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.