Truth, Secrecy, & Deception - Secrecy

Explore English idioms regarding secrecy with examples like "pull the stings" and "on the sly".

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fly on the wall [phrase]

someone who watches or listens to everything that is happening without anyone noticing their presence

Ex: Journalists often strive to be a fly on the wall during key events to gather authentic and unfiltered information .

to [pull] the strings [phrase]

to have control over a person or thing, often in way that is not obvious

Ex: In the world of espionage , a master spy can skillfully pull the strings to manipulate events without leaving a trace .

under the radar [phrase]

in a way that goes unnoticed or avoids attracting any attention

Ex: The politician strategically kept certain policy changes under the radar , minimizing public attention until after the election .

behind closed doors [phrase]

in a place where other people cannot see or know about

Ex: The committee reached a decision behind closed doors , leaving the public unaware of the factors that influenced their choice .

behind the scenes [phrase]

in a secretive way so that the general public is unaware of what is happening

Ex: The politician 's public image was carefully managed , but behind the scenes , there were numerous scandals and controversies .

black book [noun]

a list with contact information of people whom one secretly communicates with

Ex: The private investigator 's black book was filled with the names of informants and confidential sources who provided valuable information .

in cahoots [phrase]

used to refer to a situation where two or more people, organizations, etc. are secretly collaborating with each other to do something dishonest or illegal

Ex: The politician was accused of being in cahoots with lobbyists and accepting bribes for favorable legislation .

to [have] designs on {sth} [phrase]

to secretly or dishonestly intend to achieve wealth, power, etc.

Ex:

to [laugh] up {one's} sleeve [phrase]

to secretly take pleasure in something or find it amusing, particularly someone else's problems and misfortunes

Ex: Despite the criticism , the artist would laugh up her sleeve when she saw how much her controversial artwork stirred emotions .

like a thief in the night [phrase]

used to refer to something that happens unexpectedly and without warning or detection

Ex: The flu spread through the school like a thief in the night , with students falling ill without warning .

to [groan] inwardly [phrase]

to remain silent instead of expressing one's disapproval or distress

Ex: As the speaker droned on with a long , boring presentation , the audience members groaned inwardly , longing for it to end .

in league with {sb/sth} [phrase]

secretly making plans with another individual or group

Ex: The whistleblower revealed that the company 's CEO was in league with a rival organization , sharing confidential information for mutual benefit .

on the q.t. [phrase]

used to refer to something that is done in a quiet or discreet manner

Ex:

on the sly [phrase]

in a manner that is inclined to conceal a person's actual feelings and intentions

Ex: He bought a gift for his partner on the sly , planning to surprise them on their anniversary .

through the back door [phrase]

in a manner that is done secretly or subtly, often to achieve a desired result without drawing much attention

Ex: The student passed the exam by getting answers through the back door , receiving help from a friend during the test .

dog whistle [noun]

a coded message intended to be understood by a particular group while remaining unnoticed or ambiguous to others

Ex: The company 's CEO employed dog whistles in his annual address to shareholders , subtly indicating future strategic moves .

Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
Deception	Secrecy	Keeping Secrets	Lying & Exaggeration
Obviousness	Pretense	Revealing Secrets	Depth & Surface
Trust & Honesty	Truthfulness	Flattery & Bragging