secret handshake
Club entrance ritual
A secret handshake is a distinctive greeting known only to members of a particular group—a fraternity, club, or organization.
The handshake serves as a recognition signal between insiders.
Figuratively, it refers to any unspoken understanding or insider knowledge that marks group membership: Getting hired there requires knowing the secret handshake.
Intentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- furtiveSecretive and sly
discreet · concealed · hidden · cryptic · coded · signal · password · cipher
One with confidential access
- membershipState of belonging
- clubOrganization with membership
- ingroupExclusive social circle
- eliteSuperior select group
circle · cabal · fraternity · sorority · guild · society · clique · access
Confidence in another
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- solidarityUnity among allies
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- brotherhoodKinship among men
sisterhood · fellowship · kinship · rapport · alliance · pact · unity · connection
Formal event marking occasions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- customHabitual group practice
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
observance · practice · convention · initiation · induction · greeting · gesture · handclasp
covert
Intentionally concealed
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
furtive · discreet · concealed · hidden · cryptic · coded · signal · password · cipher · countersign
insider
One with confidential access
- membershipState of belonging
- clubOrganization with membership
- ingroupExclusive social circle
elite · circle · cabal · fraternity · sorority · guild · society · clique · access · initiation
trust
Confidence in another
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- solidarityUnity among allies
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
brotherhood · sisterhood · fellowship · kinship · rapport · alliance · pact · unity · connection · affinity
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- customHabitual group practice
protocol · observance · practice · convention · initiation · induction · greeting · gesture · handclasp · formality
- handshakesdead fish, wet fish, double pump, hand clasp, bone crusher
- bonding ritualshug, toast, gift giving, wedding, baptism
- childhood secretswhispering, pinky promise, coded messages, clubhouse, password
- secret societypassword, cipher, coded message, insignia, emblem
- shared secretpassword, PIN, code, codeword, encryption key
- fraternity conceptsfraternal order, initiation, oath, ritual, lodge
secret handshakewave hello
open-door policy · open arms · open invitation · handshake · high five
secret handshakeopen invitation
secret, secrecy, secretive, handshake, secrete, secreted, secretiveness, secretively, secreting