on the qt
Without anyone knowing
On the qt means secretly or discreetly, with qt being an abbreviation of "quiet": They've been seeing each other on the qt.
The phrase suggests keeping something from becoming public knowledge or avoiding official notice: He was doing side jobs on the qt to avoid taxes.
- hush hushExtremely secret, concealed
- codedConverted to symbols
- hush-hushHighly confidential matter
- mum's the wordKeep this secret
- keep it quietMaintain secrecy about something
discreet · covert · clandestine · furtive · private · confidential · need to know · for your eyes only · secretive · surreptitious · under the table · behind closed doors · behind the scenes · guarded · sub rosa · low-key · veiled · off the record
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
disclosure/visibility
on the qtpublicly
In open view
openly · out in the open · in public · above board · for all to see