brush pass
Fleeting spy exchange
A brush pass is a covert technique for transferring objects—documents, money, microfilm—between two people who appear to pass each other casually in public.
The exchange happens in a brief moment of physical proximity, ideally without the participants making eye contact or stopping.
The term comes from espionage tradecraft: The agent executed a brush pass in the crowded train station.
It has extended to any discreet handoff: She did a brush pass with the car keys so no one would notice.
- dead dropSecret exchange location
- handoffDirect physical exchange
- hand offTransfer to another person
- covertIntentionally concealed
- spyCovert information gatherer
intelligence officer · tradecraft · cold war · fleeting · contact · exchange · clandestine · bump · crowd · street · train station · envelope · package · momentary · split second · sleight · smooth · unnoticed