cloak and dagger
A situation or activity marked by secrecy, mystery, intrigue, or espionage. Often used as an adjective (a cloak-and-dagger mission) to describe clandestine operations or overly secretive meetings.
“The whole trip felt very cloak and dagger.”
“I dislike all this cloak and dagger stuff at the office.”
“They arranged the surprise party in such a cloak-and-dagger way that no one suspected a thing.”
“The journalists met their source in a dark parking garage, hoping to avoid any cloak-and-dagger drama while exchanging the sensitive documents.”
“The merger talks were conducted with such cloak-and-dagger secrecy that even senior managers were kept in the dark until the deal was signed.”
The phrase comes from the historical practice of carrying a concealed weapon, such as a dagger, hidden beneath a cloak. It is also a direct translation of the French de cape et d'épée and the Spanish de capa y espada ("cloak and sword"), which originally referred to a popular genre of swashbuckler dramas and romances during the Spanish Golden Age.
Last updated July 13, 2026