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| Behind closed doors |
If something takes place behind closed doors, it is done privately,
with no observers or intruders. "The matter was discussed behind closed doors." |
| Bite your tongue. | If you bite your tongue, you try not to say what you really
think or feel. "It was difficult for me not to react; I had to bite my tongue." |
| Let the cat out of the bag. | If you let the cat
out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often not intentionally. |
| Cover your tracks | If you cover your tracks, you conceal or destroy evidence of what you
have done or where you have been. "Charlie was sorry he hadn't covered his tracks better when his wife discovered he had been unfaithful.' |
| In the dark | If someone is kept or left in the dark about
something, they are not informed about it . "The personnel were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute." |
| Turn a blind eye | If you turn a blind eye to something, you ignore it intentionally. |
| Fly on the wall | This expression is used to
describe a person who watches a situation without being noticed. "I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project." |
| Give the game away |
If
you give the game away, you reveal a secret or a plan,
often unintentionally. "He hoped nobody in the hotel would recognize him, but an employee gave the game away." |
| Good walls make good neighbours |
This expression means that respecting one another's privacy helps create a good relationship between neighbours. |
| A dark horse | If you refer to a person
as a dark horse, you mean that they are secretive, or that little is known about them. |
| Keep something under one's hat | To keep something under one's hat
means to keep a secret. "My boss has promised me a promotion, but it's not official yet, so keep it under your hat." |
| Keep the lid on something |
If you keep the lid on something, you hide
it or control it to prevent people from finding out about it. "The company tried to keep a lid on the negotiations but word got out to the Press." |
| Keep a low profile |
A person who keeps a low profile tries not to attract public
attention. "The inventor is a discreet man who keeps a low profile." |
| Keep something under wraps | If something is kept under wraps, it is held secret and not
revealed to anyone. "The plan was kept under wraps until the contract was officially signed." |
| Like a thief in the night | Someone who acts like a thief in the night does something secretly or in an unexpected manner. "He left the company like a thief in the night, without telling his colleagues or saying goodbye." |
| Lips are sealed | If you say that your lips are sealed, you promise not to reveal a secret. "I promise I won't tell anyone. My lips are sealed!" |
| Mum's the word |
To say "Mum's the word" means
that the subject or plan is a secret and must not be revealed. "We're organizing a surprise event on New Year's Eve so "Mum's the word" - OK?" |
| Off the record |
If you say something off the record, you do
not want anyone to repeat it publicly. "My comment was made off the record, and shouldn't have been published" |
| (as) quiet as a mouse |
When someone is as quiet as a mouse, they make no noise at all. "The burglar was as quiet as a mouse as he moved around the house." |
| On the QT | If something is done on the QT, it is done quietly or discreetly. "They got married on the QT last summer and told nobody." |
| Sweep something under the rug. |
If you sweep
something under the rug (or carpet), you try to hide it or ignore it because it is embarrassing. |
| On the sly | If you do something on the sly you do it secretly or furtively. "He made such quick progress that the others suspected him of having private lessons on the sly." |
| Spill the beans |
If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret or talk about
something private. "Come on! Spill the beans! What did he say?" |
| Truth will out | This expression means that despite efforts to conceal the facts,
the truth cannot be hidden forever. "I don't know if the police gave the full details, but inevitably 'truth will out'." |
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