behind closed doors
Away from observers
Behind closed doors means in private, away from public view or scrutiny.
The phrase suggests secrecy or confidentiality—what happens when observers are excluded: The negotiations took place behind closed doors.
It often implies that the private reality differs from the public face: He seemed charming, but behind closed doors he was a tyrant.
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- hush hushExtremely secret, concealed
- in cameraLegal term for privately
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
under wraps · undisclosed · confidential · backroom · smoke filled room · sub rosa · covert · off-the-record · hidden · restricted · need to know · secure · cloaked · down low · non-disclosure · secluded · out of sight · camouflaged
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- Privateprivate, confidential, secret, personal, hidden
- forbidden loveforbidden love, forbidden romance, illicit love, secret love, forbidden fruit
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
behind closed doorsin the open
Visible, not concealed
in public · out in the open · publicly · openly · in plain sight
behind, closed, doorway, closer, closely, doors, closure, closest, doorstep