hugger-mugger

hug·ger-mug·ger

H0314900 (hŭg′ər-mŭg′ər)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.

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[Origin unknown.]

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hug′ger-mug′ger adv.hug′ger-mug′ger·y n.

hugger-mugger

(ˈhʌɡəˌmʌɡə) n1. confusion2. rare secrecyadj, adv3. with secrecy4. in confusionvb5. (tr) to keep secret6. (intr) to act secretly[C16: of uncertain origin]

hug•ger-mug•ger

(ˈhʌg ərˌmʌg ər)

n. 1. disorder or confusion; muddle. 2. secrecy; reticence. adj. 3. secret or clandestine. 4. disorderly or confused. adv. 5. in a stealthy or disorderly manner; secretively or confusedly. v.t. 6. to keep secret or concealed; hush up. [1520–30; orig. uncertain]

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, disorderlyuntidy - 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-cornercovert - 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"

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