in secret

in secret — idiom

1. doing something without letting other people see or know about it, usually by go

1.idiomB1
Definition

doing something without letting other people see or know about it, usually by going to a private or hidden place.

Example

João and his sister met in secret to plan their father's surprise birthday party.

collocation: meet in secret / plan in secret

The resistance group held their meetings in secret deep inside the old forest.

Common collocations
  • meet in secret
  • plan in secret
  • get married in secret
  • operate in secret
Synonyms
  • secretly

    adverb form; more versatile in sentence position ('secretly recorded' vs 'recorded in secret').

  • privately

    emphasises the exclusion of other people rather than the hidden nature of the action.

  • behind closed doors

    more figurative and typically used for formal or official matters kept from the public.

Antonyms
  • openly

    in a way that everyone can see or know about.

  • publicly

    done in front of or with the knowledge of many people.

Common Mistakes

They met secretly in secret.
They met in secret.
'in secret' already conveys the meaning of secrecy; adding 'secretly' is redundant.

2. only inside someone's own mind, without telling or showing other people what the

2.idiomB2
Definition

only inside someone's own mind, without telling or showing other people what they are thinking or feeling.

Example

Noa kept her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut in secret for many years.

collocation: keep [something] in secret

Ayana had always admired the old house in secret, never mentioning it to anyone.

Common collocations
  • hope in secret
  • keep in secret
  • wish in secret
  • admire in secret
Synonyms
  • inwardly

    more formal; emphasises the contrast between inner feeling and outer behaviour.

  • to oneself

    less common; suggests keeping a thought or opinion private rather than an ongoing feeling.

  • deep down

    informal; focuses on a fundamental but hidden feeling or belief.

Antonyms
  • out loud

    said or expressed openly, so others can hear.

  • publicly

    with other people knowing.

Usage Note

This sense describes internal, unexpressed states (hopes, dreams, feelings, opinions). Distinguish from sense 1, which describes physical actions done away from others' view.

Common Mistakes

She hoped in secret that her friend would visit the next day.' (ambiguous — could be physical hiding or mental privacy for a simple social visit).
She secretly hoped her friend would visit, but did not say so.
Use 'secretly hope' rather than 'hope in secret' for everyday unexpressed wishes.