Donate SIGN UP
Home > Phrases & Sayings > Cloak and dagger

Cloak and dagger

Avatar Image
potski205 | 17:06 Thu 26th Jan 2006 | Phrases & Sayings
3 Answers
What is the origin of the phrase cloak and dagger?
prev "To do a Pembo"
  
next Translation - English to German
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by potski205. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Avatar Image BourneStupid

Brewers Phrase and Fable:


Swashbuckling plays, full of fighting and adventure. Comes from the Spanish comedias de capa y espada "comedies of cloak and sword" as typified by the Spanish dramatists Lope de Vega and Calderon.

17:17 Thu 26th Jan 2006
Avatar Image Quizmonster
The earliest use of the phrase in English appeared in Charles Dickens' 'Barnaby Rudge', published in 1841. As pointed out above, the words had appeared earlier in Spanish - and also in French as 'de cape et �p�e' - meaning 'cape and sword'.
The words refer to stories/plays in which the main characters were the sort of people to wear/carry such things...spies, secret agents etc.
17:24 Thu 26th Jan 2006
Avatar Image potski205
Question Author
Thank you very much! I am new to AB, and have had my questions so far answered with a most impressive speed. I love AB and have learned so much already. Thanks!
17:59 Thu 26th Jan 2006

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Cloak and dagger

Answer Question >>