blown cover
Spy's worst nightmare
Blown cover is an exposed disguise or false identity, especially in espionage or undercover work.
When an operative's cover is blown, their true identity or purpose has been discovered, usually ending the mission and often endangering the person: His cover was blown when a former colleague recognized him at the embassy.
The phrase extends to any situation where someone's hidden role or intentions are revealed.
- exposedOut in open
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- unmaskedHad covering removed
- revealedMade visible or known
- spyCovert information gatherer
agent · identity · alias · false name · infiltrated · busted · outed · betrayed · mole · dead drop · surveillance · double-cross · extraction · extraction team · handler · burned · enemy territory · fugitive
- Spycraftspy, agent, asset, covert, handler
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
blown coverdeep cover
Prolonged covert infiltration
concealed identity · hidden identity · secret identity · anonymity · incognito
blown coveroperational security
Protecting sensitive information from adversaries
safe house · going dark · radio silence · compartmentalization · below the radar
blown, cover, blow, blows, blowing, blew, covers, covered, covering