Espionage Terminology

noun a deceitful act or betrayal

verb to deceive or betray someone

• The spy was caught in a double cross by the enemy agents.
• I can't believe he double crossed his best friend like that.
• She pulled a major double cross on her business partner.
• His betrayal felt like a double cross to everyone who trusted him.

noun a person who works secretly in the interests of a government or organization

• The secret agent was tasked with gathering intelligence on the enemy's movements.
• I heard that Bob is actually a secret agent working for the government.
• That guy over there thinks he's some kind of secret agent or something.
• She was like a secret agent, always sneaking around and finding out everyone's secrets.

adjective describing someone who is inclined to keep things hidden or secret

• The secretive organization refused to disclose any information to the public.
• She's always been so secretive about her personal life.
• I can't believe you're being so secretive about your crush!
• The artist's work was described as secretive, with hidden meanings waiting to be discovered.

verb to move in a secretive or furtive manner

adjective acting in a secretive or furtive manner

• The spy was caught sneaking into the enemy's headquarters.
• I saw you sneaking a peek at my phone!
• I caught him sneaking some snacks from the fridge.
• His ambition was always sneaking up on him, pushing him to achieve more than he ever thought possible.

noun the act of secretly obtaining information about another country or organization

verb to secretly collect information about another country or organization

• The government was accused of spying on its citizens without their consent.
• I heard that Sarah's ex-boyfriend has been spying on her social media accounts.
• I can't believe you're still spying on your crush, that's so creepy!
• The detective felt like he was spying on the suspect's every move, even though he was just observing from a distance.

adjective characterized by secrecy or stealth; sneaky

• The spy made a surreptitious entrance into the enemy's headquarters.
• She took a surreptitious peek at his phone while he was in the bathroom.
• The pickpocket made a surreptitious move to snatch the wallet.
• The artist's surreptitious brush strokes added depth to the painting.

noun a piece of advice or inside information given to someone

verb to give someone a hint or warning about something

preposition used to indicate the starting point of a race or competition

• The informant decided to tip off the authorities about the illegal activities happening in the neighborhood.
• I heard that someone tipped off the police about the party next door.
• I'm gonna tip off my friend about the surprise party we're planning for her.
• Her sudden change in behavior tipped off her friends that something was wrong.

noun a deceptive stratagem or ploy

• The trap door in the stage allowed for quick set changes during the play.
• Be careful not to fall through the trap door in the floor!
• I can't believe he fell for her trap door and ended up doing all her work.
• His charm was like a trap door, luring unsuspecting victims into his deceitful schemes.

verb to behave in a rebellious or independent manner

adjective referring to someone or something that has gone rogue

• The employee decided to go rogue and work on the project without consulting the team.
• I heard Sarah is planning to go rogue and dye her hair pink.
• Don't go rogue and try to sneak into the concert without a ticket.
• Sometimes you have to go rogue and follow your own path to achieve success.

verb To become dark or dim; to turn off or stop emitting light

adjective Describing the state of being dark or dim

• The company decided to go dark on social media for a while to focus on their new product launch.
• I heard that John's phone battery is about to go dark, so he might not be able to answer calls.
• When the party gets too loud, I just want to go dark and chill out for a bit.
• After the scandal, the celebrity chose to go dark and stay out of the public eye for a while.