English
Etymology
First attested w:1840|1840, from F. de cape et d'épée, "the cloak and the fencing sword", the French term referred to a genre of drama in which the main characters wore cloaks and had swords. w:Henry Wadsworth Longfellow|Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used the "cloak and sword" term in 1840, whereas w:Charles Dickens|Charles Dickens preferred "cloak and dagger" a year later.
Adjective
cloak-and-dagger
#Marked by furtive secrecy, often with a melodramatic tint or espionage involved.
See also
behind-the-scenes
clandestine
covert
huggermugger
hush-hush
secret
sub-rosa
under-the-table
under wraps
undercover
zh:cloak-and-dagger
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