hole-and-corner
/'houlənd'kɔ:nə/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; secretive and clandestine. This describes activities or behavior that are intentionally kept hidden from public view or official knowledge.
- Relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life; obscure and insignificant. This describes a life or existence that is secluded, unnoticed, and of little consequence to the wider world.
Usage
- The adjective "hole-and-corner" is typically used attributively, before a noun (e.g., a hole-and-corner affair). It carries a negative connotation, often implying something is not just secret, but also furtive, underhanded, or pitifully obscure.
Examples
- Secretive/Clandestine Meaning:
- The government was accused of hole-and-corner dealings with the rebel group.
- I don't trust their hole-and-corner negotiations; everything should be transparent.
- Obscure/Insignificant Meaning:
- After the scandal, he lived a hole-and-corner life in a remote village.
- The author spent his final years in hole-and-corner obscurity.
Advanced Usage
- The term is hyphenated and functions as a compound adjective. Its meaning is often derived from the imagery of something happening in a hidden corner or a hole, away from the light of public scrutiny or importance.
Variants and Related Words
- Clandestine (adj): Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
- Surreptitious (adj): Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
- Furtive (adj): Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble.
- Obscure (adj): Not discovered or known about; uncertain. Unimportant or unknown.
Synonyms
- Secret
- Covert
- Undercover
- Underground
- Backstairs (informal)
Antonyms
- Open
- Overt
- Public
- Transparent
- Prominent
Related Idioms/Phrases
- While "hole-and-corner" itself is a fixed adjective phrase, it is conceptually related to idioms about secrecy:
- Behind closed doors: Happening in private and not openly or publicly.
- Under the table/radar: Done secretly and often illegally, or without attracting attention.
Adjective
-
conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
-
clandestine intelligence operations
-
cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines
-
hole-and-corner intrigue
-
secret missions
-
a secret agent
-
secret sales of arms
-
surreptitious mobilization of troops
-
an undercover investigation
-
underground resistance
-
-
relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life
-
a hole-and-corner life in some obscure community- H.G.Wells
-
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