Secrecy is an integral part of communication, often required in both personal and professional settings. Learning expressions related to secrecy can enhance your English skills and help you navigate conversations more effectively. Here are 20 idioms and phrasal verbs that convey secrecy in various contexts.
Expressions Related to Secrecy
1. Keep Under Wraps
Meaning: Keep secret
Example: The project was kept under wraps.
2. Hush-Hush
Meaning: Confidential
Example: The meeting was hush-hush.
3. Under the Table
Meaning: Secretly
Example: They paid him under the table.
4. Behind Closed Doors
Meaning: In private
Example: Decisions were made behind closed doors.
5. Keep it to Yourself
Meaning: Don’t tell
Example: Keep this information to yourself.
6. In the Dark
Meaning: Unaware
Example: He was kept in the dark.
7. Top Secret
Meaning: Highly confidential
Example: The plan is top secret.
8. Silent Treatment
Meaning: Ignoring
Example: She gave him the silent treatment.
9. Button Your Lip
Meaning: Be quiet
Example: Button your lip about the surprise.
10. On the Q.T.
Meaning: Quietly
Example: Tell me on the Q.T.
11. Keep a Lid On
Meaning: Maintain secrecy
Example: Keep a lid on the news.
12. Swept Under the Rug
Meaning: Hidden
Example: The issue was swept under the rug.
13. On the Down-Low
Meaning: Discreetly
Example: Keep this on the down-low.
14. Off the Record
Meaning: Unofficially
Example: Off the record, he’s resigning.
15. Under One’s Hat
Meaning: Secret
Example: Keep this under your hat.
16. Code of Silence
Meaning: Agreement to keep quiet
Example: They had a code of silence.
17. Keep in the Closet
Meaning: Hidden
Example: He kept his past in the closet.
18. Mum’s the Word
Meaning: Don’t tell
Example: Mum’s the word about the party.
19. Whisper Campaign
Meaning: Spread rumors secretly
Example: A whisper campaign damaged his reputation.
20. Veil of Secrecy
Meaning: Hidden
Example: The project was under a veil of secrecy.
