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inside information

inside information

22 5.4
Secret facts not known to the public that give an advantage
  • noun
  • /ˈɪnˌsaɪd ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
translation icon : información privilegiada
  • She was charged with using inside information to illegally trade stocks before the public announcement.

They claimed that he gave me inside information on Intel, right.

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Examples

  • The original goal was to keep energy traders from gaining inside information or influencing a company's operations.

    Academic text (2002)
  • For its success, the act depends on true inside information that normal investigative techniques often fail to reveal.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The truth is, nobody needs inside information anymore to get rich.

  • We had inside information that someone wanted you dead.

  • Just to be very clear, I have no inside information.

    Blog text (29)
  • Well, we need to get some inside information and expose him.

  • Mason's plan was impossible without inside information.

  • You've given me all that inside information.

  • Interviews find no shortage of state and NGO personnel with inside information on these issues.

    Academic text (1998)
  • But thrillers, in particular, are about inside information, secrets—the workings of the FBI, CIA, criminal forensics, etc.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

secret
vsinside information
1.0

A piece of information kept hidden from others

is specifically confidential information that often gives someone an advantage
inside scoop
vsinside information
  • Literature
10 5.5

Secret information that only a few people know about a company or event

names confidential information neutrally without casual or informal tone
insider information
vsinside information
3 6.6

Secret company facts not public that people often use illegally to make money in the stock market

covers confidential information generally, not limited to companies or illegal use
insider tip
vsinside information
1 6.4

Private information that gives someone an advantage

refers broadly to confidential information that may give an advantage

Antonyms

Facts that anyone can find out

How Secret

top secret
  • Formal
55 4.2
classified
  • Formal
1 7.4
inside information
22 5.4
restricted
18 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

inside + information

The meaning 'confidential information' is directly and compositionally derived from 'inside' (internal/privileged/confidential) + 'information' (facts or knowledge). This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrase inside information gives a clear image: someone who is literally inside a company holding private information that others cannot see. That's why it means 'confidential information' that can give an 'advantage'.