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   Hug·ger-mug·ger

   /ˈhəɡərˌməɡər/

   

   adjective

   • 1. confused; disorderly: "a spirit of careless frivolity where all was hugger-mugger" Similar disorderlyconfuseddisorganizedchaoticmuddledhaphazardin a messin a shamblesin disarraytopsy-turvyat sixes and sevensinformal:higgledy-piggledyshambolicOpposite orderly
   • 2. secret; clandestine: "there was no longer the hugger-mugger anecdote, or any juicy elbow-gripping gossip" Similar clandestinesecretcovertfurtivecloak-and-daggerhole-in-the-cornerbehind-the-scenesunder-the-tablesneakyslyunderhandundercoverundergroundblackinformal:hush-hushOpposite above board

   noun

   • 1. confusion; muddle: "the vast hugger-mugger of alleys"
   • 2. secrecy: "he declared war on hugger-mugger and conspiracy, clandestine deals sealed in back rooms"

   Word Origin early 16th century (in hugger-mugger (sense 2 of the noun)): probably related to huddle and to dialect mucker ‘hoard money, conceal’. This is one of a number of similar formations from late Middle English to the 16th century, including hucker-mucker and hudder-mudder, with the basic sense ‘secrecy, concealment’.

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