behind closed doors
/bɪˌhaɪnd ˌkləʊzd ˈdɔːz/NEUTRAL · C2
Meaning
in private, where the public cannot see or hear
Examples
- 1The two companies discussed the deal behind closed doors, away from reporters.
- 2What happens behind closed doors in a marriage is often very different from what friends see.
- 3The committee made its decision behind closed doors, so nobody knows who voted for what.
- 4The players were furious that their contracts were negotiated behind closed doors.
- 5Was the meeting open to parents, or did the governors talk behind closed doors?
Grammar
The phrase is fixed: keep doors plural and no article. It usually follows a verb such as meet, discuss or happen.
More idioms about honesty and secrets
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →my lips are sealedsaid when you promise not to tell anyonea wolf in sheep's clothingsomeone who seems friendly but is really dangerouswalls have earsused to warn that someone may be listeninggive the game awayto spoil a surprise by revealing what should stay hiddenunder wrapskept private for nowblow the whistle onto tell people in authority about something wrong that someone is doing
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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