hole-and-corner

hole-and-corner
/hohl"euhn kawr"neuhr/, adj.
1. secretive; clandestine; furtive: The political situation was full of hole-and-corner intrigue.
2. trivial and colorless: She was living a hole-and-corner existence of daily drudgery.
Also, hole-in-corner /hohl"in kawr"neuhr/.
[1825-35]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Hole and corner — Hole Hole (h[=o]l), n. [OE. hol, hole, AS. hol, hole, cavern, from hol, a., hollow; akin to D. hol, OHG. hol, G. hohl, Dan. huul hollow, hul hole, Sw. h[*a]l, Icel. hola; prob. from the root of AS. helan to conceal. See {Hele}, {Hell}, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hole-and-corner — ► hole and corner secret. Main Entry: ↑hole …   English terms dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — [hōl′ən kôr΄nər] adj. 1. unimportant, humdrum, etc. 2. kept secret, esp. to avoid blame or punishment …   English World dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — adjective 1. relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life a hole and corner life in some obscure community H.G.Wells • Syn: ↑hole in corner • Similar to: ↑insignificant, ↑unimportant 2. conducted with or marked by hidden aims or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — British, British hole and corner activities are kept secret, usually because they are dishonest. I don t want any more hole in the corner deals, from now all our business will be done in the open. (always before noun) …   New idioms dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — adjective Conducted in secret; clandestine. Whatever made you think in the first place that I would give up the security of my happy marriage for a hole and corner affair with you? Syn: cloak and dagger …   Wiktionary

  • hole-and-corner — UK / US adjective done in a secret and perhaps dishonest way His execution was a hole and corner affair …   English dictionary

  • hole-and-corner — hole′ and cor′ner or hole′ in cor′ner adj. secretive; furtive …   From formal English to slang

  • Hole and Corner man — noun Australian History a person who advocated severity in dealing with transported convicts and was opposed to the emancipists …  

  • hole-in-corner — adjective relating to the peripheral and unimportant aspects of life a hole and corner life in some obscure community H.G.Wells • Syn: ↑hole and corner • Similar to: ↑insignificant, ↑unimportant * * * adjective see …   Useful english dictionary

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