clandestine
adjective

- planned or done in secret, especially describing something that is not officially allowed

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

—
ORIGIN

From the Latin “clandestinus” (secret, hidden), which is probably a blend of “clam” (secretly) and “intestines” (internal). Clam also refers to an edible sea creature with a shell in two parts that can close together tightly. Because it gives the appearance of a mouth with a set of closed lips, clam also refers to a person who is able to keep a secret. The expression “clam up” means to refuse to talk.

—
CLANDESTINE SHIRT SALES

As a former law enforcement officer, John Miller (author of The Cell) had considerable experience in the clandestine monitoring of phone conversations of suspected criminals. The Mafia was well aware of this and also knew there was a risk of informants in the family business. That’s why they often used codes involving “innocent” words to describe such things as guns and kilograms of cocaine. The police were not always fooled. Indeed, Miller once overheard the following conversation:

“So you got any more of them… shirts?”
“Yeah, we got some nice shirts”
“How white are they?”
“They’re very white.”
“How much?”
“250 each.”
“OK. We’ll take three and a half… shirts.”

—
COMMON CLANDESTINE PHRASES

- clandestine childbirth = verheimlichte Geburt

- clandestine dealings = heimliche Geschäfte

- clandestine employment = Schwarzarbeit

- clandestine worker = Schwarzarbeiter

- clandestine immigration = illegale Einwanderung

- clandestine marriage = heimliche Eheschließung

- clandestine meeting = heimliches Treffen

- clandestine operation = Geheimoperation

- clandestine publication = heimliche Veröffentlichung

- clandestine trade = Schleichhandel

—
SYNONYMS

- done or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose

back-alley, backdoor, backroom, backstage, backstairs, behind-the-scenes, between ourselves, between you and me (and the bedpost/doorpost/gatepost), classified, cloak-and-dagger, closely guarded, CLANDESTINE, close to one’s chest, confidential, conspiratorial, covert, deceptive, dirty-dealing, double-dealing, duplicitous, (for)eyes-only, furtive, hole-in-the-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, in camera, incog, incognito, in confidence, in secret (strict confidence), mum, need to know, non-public, nonpublic, not for circulation (publication/public consumption), not in the public domain, not to be disclosed (made public/mentioned/quoted), off-the-record, on the QT, on the quiet, privileged information, restricted (access), screened, sealed, secret, secretive, sensitive, shadowy, shady, shifty, stealthy, strictly confidential, sub-rosa, surreptitious, tight-lipped, to be kept under wraps, top-secret, tucked away, under-the-counter (table), undercover, under one’s hat, under wraps, undivulged, unnarrated, unofficial, with a lid on, within these four walls

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“He handed in his resignation after having had several CLANDESTINE meetings with a headhunter.”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40