1.
cover; front; guise
Something used to conceal one's true activities or intentions. From a magical straw raincoat in folklore that made its wearer invisible.
その会社は犯罪の隠れ蓑だった。
That company was a front for crime.
ボランティア活動を隠れ蓑にして金を集めていた。
They used volunteer work as a cover to collect money.
慈善団体という隠れ蓑の下で脱税が行われていた。
Tax evasion was carried out under the guise of a charity organization.
Literally a 蓑 (straw raincoat) that makes its wearer invisible, from Japanese folklore. Figuratively, anything used to hide one's real purpose or wrongdoing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 〜を隠れ蓑にする: to use ~ as a cover
- 隠れ蓑の下で: under the guise of
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 口実: pretext; excuse — a verbal justification rather than a concealing front
- 偽装: disguise; camouflage — the act of faking an appearance