hole-in-the-corner

hole-in-the-corner

Shady and secretive, typically to hide illicit activity. Primarily heard in UK. You can be sure there's some hole-in-the-corner activities going on in that private club.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hole-in-the-corner

or

hole-and-corner

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If you describe an activity or an event as hole-in-the-corner or hole-and-corner, you mean that it is kept secret, usually because it is dishonest or shameful. You deserve better than a hole-in-the-corner relationship like this. His visit was a hole-and-corner affair, and treated like a guilty secret.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • hole-and-corner
  • blue code of silence
  • blue wall of silence
  • code
  • silence
  • merchandise
  • stolen fruit is (the) sweetest
  • stolen fruit is sweet
  • stolen fruit is sweetest
  • stolen pleasures are (the) sweetest
References in periodicals archive
He said there was no hole-in-the-corner cover-up in an attempt to mislead the Commons.
He said, "Ours have not been the actions of people engaged in a hole-in-the-corner cover-up."
Heseltine's savage bid to sink Ponting; RETRO REPORT FEBRUARY 1985 - How we covered..
He said, 'Ours have not been the actions of people engaged in a hole-in-the-corner cover- up.'
RETRO REPORT-FEBRUARY, 1985:Heseltine's savage bid to sink Ponting