hole-in-corner

Thân thiện

A family enjoys a hole-in-corner picnic in their small backyard.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Secretive, furtive, or clandestine: Describes something done in a secret or underhanded manner, often to avoid attention or scrutiny.
   • Insignificant, petty, or relating to unimportant peripheral matters: Refers to aspects of life that are trivial, obscure, or of little consequence.

Usage

The adjective "hole-in-corner" is used attributively (before a noun) to describe actions, affairs, or a way of life characterized by secrecy or triviality. It often carries a negative or dismissive connotation, implying something is not only secret but also somewhat shabby, dishonest, or unimportant.

Examples

• Attributive Use:
  • They were tired of his hole-in-corner schemes and demanded transparency. (They were tired of his secretive and underhanded plans.)
  • The investigation revealed a hole-in-corner agreement between the two officials. (The investigation revealed a clandestine agreement.)
  • He lived a hole-in-corner life in some obscure community. (He lived an insignificant life in some obscure community.)

Advanced Usage

• "hole-and-corner": This is a variant form with identical meaning and usage.
  • The whole business was a hole-and-corner affair. (The whole business was a secretive and shady affair.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hole-and-corner (adj): A direct variant of "hole-in-corner" with the same meaning.
• Clandestine (adj): Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
• Furtive (adj): Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble.
• Surreptitious (adj): Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
• Petty (adj): Of little importance; trivial.

Synonyms

• Secretive
• Clandestine
• Furtive
• Surreptitious
• Underhanded
• Obscure
• Trivial
• Petty

Idioms and Phrases

• A hole-in-corner affair: A phrase describing a situation, relationship, or business that is conducted secretly and often with a sense of shame or insignificance.
  • Their romance was a hole-in-corner affair, known only to a few. (Their romance was a secretive relationship.)

Học thuật

Adjective

1. relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life
   • a hole-and-corner life in some obscure community- H.G.Wells

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hole-and-corner