dagger

cloak-and-dagger

involving secrecy and plotting. A great deal of cloak-and-dagger stuff goes on in political circles. A lot of cloak-and-dagger activity was involved in the appointment of the director.

look daggers at someone

Fig. to give someone a dirty look. Tom must have been mad at Ann from the way he was looking daggers at her. Don't you dare look daggers at me! Don't even look cross-eyed at me!

See also: look

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be at daggers drawn  (British & Australian)

if two people or groups are at daggers drawn, they are angry and ready to fight or argue with each other

Usage notes: A dagger is a sharp pointed knife that was used in the past as a weapon.

(often + with ) Local residents are at daggers drawn with the council over rubbish collection. (often + over ) The two countries have several times been at daggers drawn over the future of the island.

See look daggers at

See also: drawn

cloak-and-dagger

cloak-and-dagger behaviour is when people behave in a very secret way, often when it is not really necessary

Usage notes: A cloak is a type of long, loose coat and a dagger is a small sharp knife used as a weapon. In 17th century Spanish theatre, cloak-and-dagger was worn by a dishonest character in the play.

(always before noun) Is all this cloak-and-dagger stuff necessary? Why can't we just meet in a café like everyone else?

look daggers at somebody

to look very angrily at someone I suddenly noticed David looking daggers at me and thought I'd better shut up.

See also: look

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shoot daggers at somebody also look daggers at somebody

to look very angrily at someone I put a cigarette in my mouth and saw her shooting daggers at me from all the way across the room.

See also: shoot