Political Strategy

noun a shelter or hiding place

adjective not openly acknowledged or displayed

• The covert operation was meticulously planned and executed by the intelligence agency.
• I heard they're doing some covert stuff over at the old warehouse.
• Let's keep this covert operation on the down low, okay?
• Her smile was like a covert signal that only he could understand.

noun a step taken sideways, especially to avoid something or to gain an advantage

verb to step to one side in order to avoid something or to gain an advantage

• The politician tried to sidestep the controversial question during the press conference.
• She always manages to sidestep any responsibility when things go wrong.
• I saw him try to sidestep the security guard at the concert.
• He tried to sidestep his emotions by burying himself in work.

noun a mass of dense smoke produced to conceal an area, vessel, or troops from the enemy

• The company used a smoke screen to hide their true financial situation from investors.
• Don't believe everything he says, it's just a smoke screen to distract you.
• She's always putting up a smoke screen to avoid talking about her problems.
• His excuses were just a smoke screen for his lack of effort.

noun A teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece

• The sophist used clever arguments to persuade the jury.
• Don't listen to that sophist, he's just trying to manipulate you.
• That sophist is such a smooth talker, you can't trust a word he says.
• Beware of the sophist in sheep's clothing, their words may deceive you.

noun A phrase used to describe the act of abandoning or betraying someone

verb To leave someone in a difficult situation without any help or support

• The company decided to hang someone out to dry after discovering evidence of embezzlement.
• I can't believe they're going to hang someone out to dry for a mistake that wasn't entirely their fault.
• They really threw him under the bus and hung him out to dry in front of everyone.
• When the team lost the game, the coach chose to hang someone out to dry by blaming them for the defeat.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• The team decided to run down the clock in order to secure their lead.
• Let's just run down the clock and get out of here.
• We can just chill and run down the clock until the game is over.
• He tried to run down the clock on his project deadline by procrastinating.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• It is advisable to keep sensitive information close to the vest in a corporate setting.
• I always keep my plans close to the vest so no one can steal my ideas.
• Hey, don't spill the beans about the surprise party, keep it close to the vest!
• She tends to keep her emotions close to the vest, not revealing much about how she truly feels.