The Secret World of CIA Lingo — And How You’re Already Using It
The world of espionage is dark, secretive, and — let’s be honest — downright fascinating. Everyone’s got a vision of what it’s like, thanks to spy movies, novels, and that one time they got stuck at a party with someone who claims to “know a guy.” But if this “guy” starts calling themselves a “CIA agent” rather than an operative or officer, they’re probably not who they say they are.
For those in the know, there’s a special lingo that CIA operatives toss around, words that hold a very different meaning in the shadowy spy world. Let’s break it down — and of course, throw in some real-life humor while we’re at it.
First off, if someone at the CIA asks, “Are you coming to Vespers?” don’t expect a prayer session or a nod to James Bond’s fiancée, Vesper Lynd. In CIA-speak, Vespers is their version of happy hour — a casual get-together where agents share stories of close calls, clever disguises, and top-notch spy tactics, all while enjoying some drinks and snacks. Think of it as a secretive office party, but with fewer awkward moments and way more talk about spy moves like “brush passes.” Speaking of which…
A brush pass is one of the slickest moves in the spy’s arsenal — two operatives exchange intel in the blink of an eye, usually while casually walking past each other in a crowd. Nothing to see here, folks. In everyday life, though, we do these all the time without realizing it. Ever discreetly pass a note to a friend in a meeting or slip your phone to someone under the table without anyone noticing? That’s a brush pass in its purest form, just without the high-stakes intel.
In my spy thriller Mission of Vengeance, one of Corey Pearson’s team members, codenamed “Brush Pass,” is a master of this maneuver. There’s a tense moment where he and Corey pull off a perfect brush pass by swapping two identical leather briefcases while casually walking past each other on a sidewalk, hidden behind a tree to avoid any prying eyes.
The briefcases may look ordinary, but the one passed to Corey contains a secret NSA algorithm and a GPS-mapped mission, loaded with classified intel — more valuable than anything you’d find on a politician’s lost laptop.
Speaking of Corey Pearson, the guy’s earned his title of spymaster, which isn’t just a cool moniker. A spymaster is the head honcho, the person orchestrating an entire web of operatives. In the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series, Corey is the go-to guy for missions that would make lesser men run for cover. The title doesn’t come easy, and Corey wears it like a badge of honor. Think of him as the James Bond of his team, minus the shaken martinis and Aston Martins (though who knows what’s in that Vespers cocktail).
Then there’s the dead drop — a classic spy maneuver where agents leave sensitive info in a hidden location for someone else to pick up. It’s the ultimate in no-contact delivery. Now, for those of us living in the non-spy world, the dead drop is basically what happens when you stash the last slice of pizza in the back of the fridge, hoping no one finds it before you can enjoy it later. The CIA may be worried about enemy surveillance, but you’re just trying to dodge your snack-stealing roommate.
A great example of a CIA operative using a dead drop comes from the Cold War era. CIA officer Oleg Penkovsky, a Soviet military intelligence officer who secretly worked for the U.S. and British intelligence, used dead drops to pass crucial intelligence.
Penkovsky provided information about Soviet missile capabilities, which played a critical role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He would leave sensitive documents, including photos of classified Soviet materials, in prearranged locations like public parks for his CIA and MI6 handlers to pick up. These dead drops allowed the CIA to receive vital intelligence without exposing Penkovsky to direct contact, keeping him safe while helping to prevent a potential nuclear conflict.
If you ever hear a CIA officer mention RUMINT, you might think it’s a new cocktail, but it actually stands for “rumor intelligence,” the unofficial gossip that circulates through Agency hallways. It’s the “Did you hear what so-and-so is planning?” whispered between colleagues. And by the time it spreads around, the details have likely changed, much like how your friend’s story about their weekend seems to get more exaggerated with every retelling. Just remember, until it’s confirmed, it’s nothing more than hearsay — great for water cooler chats but definitely not something you’d want to base a mission on.
Now, don’t let your friend brag about their assets without getting some clarification. In the CIA, an asset is a crucial intelligence source, someone who provides life-or-death information that could alter the course of global politics. But in the real world, an “asset” is just your neighborhood busybody, always eager to fill you in on why the Johnsons are suddenly taking separate cars to church. Sure, it’s not nuclear secrets, but for gossip hounds, it’s just as juicy.
And finally, there’s the legend. In spy terms, this is the false identity an operative carefully builds over time — so flawless and detailed that they can slip into foreign countries, assume new lives, and carry out top-secret missions without raising any suspicion.
A real-life example of this is the legendary Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who used the concept of a legend during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. Mendez created fake identities for six American diplomats trapped in Iran, posing them as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a sci-fi movie. Thanks to these expertly crafted legends, Mendez and the diplomats successfully escaped Iran in what became known as the “Canadian Caper.”
But let’s be honest, we all dabble in creating our own legends on social media, don’t we? Posting that vacation photo from three years ago so everyone thinks you’re still lounging on tropical beaches when really, you’re at home in sweatpants, binge-watching Netflix. That, my friends, is a legend in the making — just with a little less international intrigue.
And let’s not forget those clandestine brush passes during the Cold War, where agents swapped sensitive intel in bustling cities under the watchful eyes of enemy spies. What might have seemed like a casual bump in the park was actually the exchange of world-altering secrets. Sometimes, these agents would follow it up with a dead drop, stashing coded messages behind a lamppost or under a park bench, waiting for their ‘cut-out’ — the middleman — to come collect it. And while this might sound like a scene out of a movie, it was real. A perfectly timed switch of briefcases, a quick handoff of a legend-filled passport, or even passing off some RUMINT over coffee — all part of a day’s work in the shadowy world of Cold War espionage.
So, the next time you dodge office gossip or sneak the last slice of pizza past your nosy roommate, just remember — you’re already living your own version of the spy life. Everyday moments can have their own little espionage twists. When you quietly pass a note across the table during a meeting without anyone noticing, that’s your very own brush pass. And if you’ve ever hidden snacks behind the cereal in the pantry to keep them safe, well, that’s basically a classic dead drop.
Even the digital world has its spycraft moments. When you add a few “creative” achievements to your LinkedIn profile to make things look a little more exciting, you’re building your own legend. You might not have a code name or high-tech gadgets just yet, but hey, you’re closer to being a spy than you think!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the “Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster” spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.