hole-and-corner

• Expression idiomatique britannique désignant quelque chose de secret, caché ou fait de manière dissimulée, souvent avec une connotation de culpabilité ou de discrétion suspecte.

An old-fashioned British idiom used to describe something secretive, clandestine, or done in a hidden manner.

1. Unimportant or trivialC2formalbritish

   Relating to the peripheral and insignificant aspects of life or a situation.

   insignifiant, marginal

   • He was preoccupied with hole-and-corner details that no one else cared about.
   • The report focused on hole-and-corner issues rather than the main problem.
   • She spent her time on hole-and-corner activities that had little impact.

   Synonymesinconsequentialinsignificantminorpettysmalltriflingtrivialunimportant

   Antonymescentralessentialimportantkeymainmajorprimaryprincipalsignificantvital

2. Secretive or underhandedC2formalbritish

   Conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; secretive and often dishonest.

   sournois, caché

   • The deal was arranged in a hole-and-corner manner, away from public scrutiny.
   • Their hole-and-corner dealings eventually came to light.
   • The committee condemned the hole-and-corner tactics used by the lobbyists.

   Synonymesbackstairsclandestinecovertfurtivesecretiveshadyslysurreptitiousunderhanded

   Antonymesaboveboardforthrighthonestopenpublic