sub rosa
Behind closed doors
Sub rosa means in secret or confidentially, literally "under the rose" in Latin.
The rose was an ancient symbol of secrecy, and meetings held sub rosa were understood to be private and not for disclosure.
The phrase typically describes communications, agreements, or activities conducted away from public view: The negotiations were conducted sub rosa to avoid media scrutiny.
It carries a more formal or literary tone than simply saying "in secret."
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- undisclosedNot made known
hidden · veiled · hush-hush · off-the-record · privileged · classified · privy · hushed
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- privateRestricted to certain parties
undisclosed · hidden · veiled · hush-hush · off-the-record · privileged · classified · privy · hushed · unspoken
- confidentialconfidential, secret, private, classified, undisclosed
- Latin Termsa priori, ab initio, ad hoc, ad lib, bona fide
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
- LatinLatin, Latin vocabulary, Latin roots, Latin alphabet, Latin phrases
sub rosaopenly
Without hiding anything
publicly · in public · out in the open · in the open · above board
sub rosaon the record
Openly stated, quotable
officially · on record · for the record · formally · documented
rose, sub, roses, rosary, rosebush, roseate, rosewood, rosewater