hugger-mugger

adj 1: in utter disorder; "a disorderly pile of clothes" [syn: {disorderly},

{higgledy-piggledy}, {jumbled}, {topsy-turvy}]

2: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods;

"clandestine intelligence operations"; "cloak-and-dagger

activities behind enemy lines"; "hole-and-corner

intrigue"; "secret missions"; "a secret agent"; "secret

sales of arms"; "surreptitious mobilization of troops";

"an undercover investigation"; "underground resistance"

[syn: {clandestine}, {cloak-and-dagger}, {hole-and-corner(a)},

{hush-hush}, {on the quiet(p)}, {secret}, {surreptitious},

{undercover}, {underground}]

n : a state of confusion; ritual accompanied by complicated and

purposeless activity that obscures and confuses; "he

engaged in the hugger-mugger of international finance"

[syn: {mumbo jumbo}]

adv : in secrecy; "they did it all hugger-mugger"