under cover
under cover
With one's true identity being kept a secret. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. Under cover of darkness, the thieves entered the orchard and stole as much fruit as they could carry. Tabloids often publish false or misleading stories they say are based on testimony of sources who are "under cover of anonymity," which is really just code for "completely fictitious."
See also: cover
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
under cover
1. Protected by a shelter, as in It began to pour but fortunately we were under cover. [c. 1400]
2. under cover of. Also, under the cover of. Hidden or protected by, as in They sneaked out under cover of darkness, or, as it was put in a sermon in 1751: "Presumption which loves to conceal itself under the cover of humility" (John Jortin, Sermons on Different Subjects).
See also: cover
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
under ˈcover
1 pretending to be somebody else in order to do something secretly: a police officer working under cover
2 under a structure that gives protection from the weather: We’d better get under cover or we’ll get very wet in this rain.
See also: cover
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
under cover
1. In an enclosure for mailing.
2. Being hidden or protected, as by darkness.
See also: cover
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- a round robin
- round robin
- eleventh hour
- heads I win, tails you lose
- black market
- a light touch
- first hand
- rust bucket
- good for nothing
- good-for-nothing