under cover
Working while hidden
Under cover means hidden, concealed, or protected from view or the elements.
Someone waiting under cover of a bus shelter stays dry in the rain.
The phrase takes on more figurative meanings when it suggests secrecy or disguise: The agents worked under cover to infiltrate the organization.
Under cover of darkness or under cover of night means using darkness as concealment.
When hyphenated or written as one word, undercover becomes an adjective describing covert operations or operatives.
Concealed from authorities
- secretConcealed information
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
confidential · hush-hush · off-the-record · undisclosed · unrevealed · sub rosa · behind closed doors · private
Covert information gatherer
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- double agentSpy betraying their side
- handlerOne who manages something
asset · informant · intelligence · surveillance · CIA · MI6 · KGB · Mossad
With identity concealed
- aliasAdopted false name
- assumed nameAdopted false identity
- impersonationPretending to be another
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
costume · makeup · wig · fake beard · glasses · unrecognizable · blending in · legend
Subterranean insectivore
- plantBotanical organism
- insiderOne with confidential access
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- penetrationEntry into something
sleeper cell · turned agent · double agent · inside man · breach · compromised · implanted · entrenched
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- frontForward-facing side
disinformation · misdirection · false flag · feint · stratagem · manipulation · duplicity · smoke and mirrors
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
classified · confidential · hush-hush · off-the-record · undisclosed · unrevealed · sub rosa · behind closed doors · private · restricted
spy
Covert information gatherer
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- double agentSpy betraying their side
handler · asset · informant · intelligence · surveillance · CIA · MI6 · KGB · Mossad · sleeper agent
incognito
With identity concealed
- aliasAdopted false name
- assumed nameAdopted false identity
- impersonationPretending to be another
masquerade · costume · makeup · wig · fake beard · glasses · unrecognizable · blending in · legend · backstory
mole
Subterranean insectivore
penetration · sleeper cell · turned agent · double agent · inside man · breach · compromised · implanted · entrenched
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
front · disinformation · misdirection · false flag · feint · stratagem · manipulation · duplicity · smoke and mirrors · pretense
- protectedprotected, shielded, guarded, secured, safe
- shady adverbsdishonestly, deceitfully, deceptively, fraudulently, sneakily
under coverin plain sight
Completely visible, unhidden
out in the open · exposed · visible · uncovered · in full view
under coveropenly
Without hiding anything
in the open · overtly · publicly · above board · out in the open
under coverout in the open
Visible to everyone
exposed · unsheltered · unprotected · outdoors · uncovered