open secret
Publicly known hush-hush
An open secret is something that is supposed to be confidential but is actually widely known.
The phrase captures the paradox of information that maintains the pretense of secrecy while being common knowledge among those involved.
His affair was an open secret around the office.
Open secrets often persist because acknowledging them publicly would create awkwardness or force action that people prefer to avoid.
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- buzzContinuous low drone
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
leak · scoop · tittle-tattle · grapevine · chatter · word-of-mouth · innuendo · speculation
Not verbally expressed
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- implicitUnderstood without being stated
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
- unaddressedNot yet handled
wink · nudge · silent agreement · complicity · collusion · willful ignorance · elephant in the room · polite fiction
Self-contradicting phrase device
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- juxtapositionAdjacent contrasting placement
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
incongruity · antithesis · ambiguity · duality · double meaning · wordplay · figure of speech · rhetorical device
Covert intelligence gathering
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
classified · whistleblower · cover-up · scandal · Watergate · WikiLeaks · diplomatic cable · backroom deal
Escaped through opening
- disclosedMade previously hidden known
- revealedMade visible or known
- uncoveredMade visible or known
- outedRevealed someone's hidden truth
exposed · transparent · public knowledge · common knowledge · see-through · obvious · apparent · evident
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
hearsay · leak · scoop · tittle-tattle · grapevine · chatter · word-of-mouth · innuendo · speculation · water cooler
unspoken
Not verbally expressed
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- implicitUnderstood without being stated
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
unaddressed · wink · nudge · silent agreement · complicity · collusion · willful ignorance · elephant in the room · polite fiction · plausible deniability
oxymoron
Self-contradicting phrase device
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- juxtapositionAdjacent contrasting placement
dichotomy · incongruity · antithesis · ambiguity · duality · double meaning · wordplay · figure of speech · rhetorical device · counterintuitive
espionage
Covert intelligence gathering
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
intelligence · classified · whistleblower · cover-up · scandal · Watergate · WikiLeaks · diplomatic cable · backroom deal · shadow government
leaked
Escaped through opening
outed · exposed · transparent · public knowledge · common knowledge · see-through · obvious · apparent · evident · plain sight
- oxymoronsbittersweet, deafening silence, pretty ugly, living dead, act naturally
- secrecyconfidential, classified, hidden, hiding, concealment
- Unspoken Rulestacit agreement, gentleman's agreement, silent understanding, house rule, implied consent
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- Obviousnessobviously, clearly, of course, duh, no duh
open secretclassified information
Sensitive, access-restricted material
state secret · top secret · hidden truth · buried secret · dark secret
open secretprivileged information
Legally protected confidential knowledge
eyes only · trade secret · family secret · private matter · classified briefing
open, secret, opening, openly, opened, secretly, secrecy, secretive, secrets