hole-and-corner

adjective

hole-and-cor·​ner ˈhōl-ən(d)-ˈkȯr-nər 

1

: being or carried on in a place away from public view : clandestine

2

: insignificant

Synonyms

• backstairs
• behind-the-scenes
• clandestine
• covert
• furtive
• hugger-mugger
• hush-hush
• private
• privy
• secret
• sneak
• sneaking
• sneaky
• stealth
• stealthy
• surreptitious
• undercover
• underground
• underhand
• underhanded

Examples of hole-and-corner in a Sentence

a hole-and-corner antiterrorist operation whose very existence has been steadfastly denied by the government

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1