to have overt and covert dealings; to associate openly and in secret
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to have frequent and close dealings, both openly and secretly; clandestine contact
derogatoryOften used in a derogatory sense to describe relationships or dealings that are suspicious, improper, or conspiratorial. It implies the parties are in league with each other, not merely social acquaintances.
Zhè这
liǎng两
rén人
zuì最
jìn近
míng明
lái来
àn暗
wǎng往
，
bù不
zhī知
dào道
zài在
cè策
huà划
shén什
me么
。
These two have been in frequent contact both openly and secretly recently; who knows what they are plotting.
Gōng公
sī司
yǔ与
nà那
ge个
yǒu有
zhēng争
yì议
de的
zǔ组
zhī织
yī一
zhí直
míng明
lái来
àn暗
wǎng往
，
yǐn引
qǐ起
le了
gōng公
zhòng众
de的
zhì质
yí疑
。
The company has maintained overt and covert dealings with that controversial organization, raising public questions.
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Wèi为
le了
lì利
yì益
，
tā他
men们
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
hù互
bù不
xiāng相
gān干
，
shí实
zé则
míng明
lái来
àn暗
wǎng往
。
For profit, they pretended to have nothing to do with each other on the surface, but in reality, they were in secret contact.