hugger-mugger

hug·ger-mug·ger  (hgr-mgr)

n.

1. Disorderly confusion; muddle.

2. Secrecy; concealment.

adj.

1. Disorderly; jumbled.

2. Secret; clandestine.

v. hug·ger-mug·gered, hug·ger-mug·ger·ing, hug·ger-mug·gers

v.tr.

To keep secret; conceal.

v.intr.

To act in a secretive manner.

---

[Origin unknown.]

---

hugger-mugger adv.

hugger-mugger·y n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	hugger-mugger - a state of confusion; "he engaged in the hugger-mugger of international finance" confusion - disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably; "the army retreated in confusion"
Adj.	1.	hugger-mugger - in utter disorder; "a disorderly pile of clothes" higgledy-piggledy, jumbled, topsy-turvy, disorderly untidy - not neat and tidy; "careless and untidy in her personal habits"; "an untidy living room"; "untidy and casual about money"
	2.	hugger-mugger - 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" clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hush-hush, undercover, underground, secret, surreptitious, hole-and-corner covert - secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; "covert actions by the CIA"; "covert funding for the rebels"
Adv.	1.	hugger-mugger - in secrecy; "they did it all hugger-mugger"