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to hugger-mugger

to hugger-mugger

9.9
To act in a secret, quiet way to avoid being seen
  • verb
  • /ˈhʌɡər ˈmʌɡər/
  • Archaic
: actuar a escondidas
  • They hugger-muggered their plans, telling no one about the intended escape.

Examples

  • The conspirators were hugger-muggering in the shadows, wary of being overheard.

  • The thief tried to hugger-mugger about the alley, avoiding the lamps' glow.

  • They were acting in a hugger-mugger manner during the meeting.

  • Stop being so hugger-mugger about your plans!

  • The conspirators were hugger-muggering in the shadows, wary of being overheard.

  • The thief tried to hugger-mugger about the alley, avoiding the lamps' glow.

  • They hugger-muggered their plans, telling no one about the intended escape.

Synonyms

to skulk
vsto hugger-mugger
20 7.7

To move or act quietly to avoid being noticed

is general stealth rather than specifically avoiding something
to slink
vsto hugger-mugger
16 6.7

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen

is neutral stealth without the usual guilt or fear motive
to skulk in the shadows
vsto hugger-mugger
1 8.6

To hide and move quietly in dark places to avoid being seen

is about acting stealthily without specifically staying in dark places

Antonyms

∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

234 4.1

To tell people information that was secret

146 2.8

Make something visible by removing a cover or letting light reach it

How Secretive

to hugger-mugger
  • Archaic
9.9
to skulk
20 7.7

Surface Forms

hugger-mugger infinitive
hugger-mugged past participle
hugging present participle
hugger-muggers third person singular

Etymology

To hugger-mugger comes from that same old idea of a rhyming, whispering pair — hugger + mugger — used for things done 'on the sly' or in secret. So the verb means to act or move in a quiet, secret way.