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Glite Dictionary
on the Q.T.

on the Q.T.

40 9.9
In secret so other people do not know
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : a escondidas
  • She asked him to keep the surprise party on the Q.T. to avoid ruining the surprise.

Examples

  • OK, COULD YOU KEEP THIS ON THE QT FOR LIKE 2 MINUTES?

    Employee of the Month (2006)

  • They planned their wedding on the Q.T. to keep it intimate and private.

  • The journalist decided to gather information on the Q.T. to protect her sources.

Synonyms

secretly
vson the Q.T.
261 1.4

In a way that other people do not know

is similar but often stresses trust and confidential handling
in private
vson the Q.T.
249 2.4

Without other people present

can also apply when others are present but information is kept confidential
privately
vson the Q.T.
174 3.2

In a way not shared with other people

often implies formal confidentiality rather than mere nonpublic action
behind the scenes
vson the Q.T.
117 4.9

In a private way, away from the public view

is broader, applying to private acts outside of work too
behind closed doors
vson the Q.T.
  • Literature
112 4.1

In private and not open to the public

can include private acts that do not require a closed room
in secret
vson the Q.T.
56 2.5

In a way other people do not know

is the same idea but often implies confidentiality rather than just hidden
behind-the-scenes
vson the Q.T.
33 4.3

Happening in private and away from public view

covers private dealings more generally, not only work contexts
under wraps
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
28 6.0

Most people do not know about it

applies more to private handling rather than public concealment planning
covertly
vson the Q.T.
17 6.9

In a secret way so other people do not know

focuses more on private trust and confidential sharing
hush-hush
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
13 7.5

People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed

is similar but is more neutral and widely used
confidentially
vson the Q.T.
10 4.4

In a private way so no one else knows

is similar but less tied to formal responsibility to protect it
clandestinely
vson the Q.T.
  • Formal
4 8.0

In a secret way to avoid being seen or found

covers secret handling but less strongly implies evasion
on the QT
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
2 9.5

In secret and not in public

is the everyday expression for the same confidential manner
secretively
vson the Q.T.
1 6.1

In a quiet way that hides what you do or think

focuses on confidential sharing rather than a secretive personality
on the hush
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
1 8.6

In secret and quietly so nobody finds out

adds the sense of confidential handling rather than only silence
below decks
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
1 7.7

In private and away from public attention

is the common phrase for confidential handling in everyday speech
sub-rosa
vson the Q.T.
  • Formal
9.9

Happening secretly to keep it private

uses a common, less formal way to express the same confidentiality
under the rose
vson the Q.T.
  • Literature
9.5

In secret so only a few people know

is the normal modern phrasing for the same confidential action
under someone's hat
vson the Q.T.
  • Informal
8.9

Kept secret and not told to other people

is broader, including shared confidential arrangements not held by one person

Antonyms

publicly
575 1.2

In a way that everyone can see or know

openly
303 1.6

To say or do things without hiding feelings

How Secret

clandestinely
  • Formal
4 8.0
secretly
261 1.4
on the Q.T.
  • Informal
40 9.9
privately
174 3.2
discreetly
33 5.1
quietly
517 1.0

Surface Forms

on the Q.T. positive

Morphology

on + the + Q.T.

The phrase's core element 'Q.T.' is an opaque abbreviation (historically from 'quiet'/'quietly') that a B1 learner who only knows 'on' and 'the' would not interpret; the words 'on the' are function words and give no semantic clue to 'in secret'. Because the idiom relies on a conventionalized abbreviation and historical usage rather than transparent composition, its meaning is unpredictable to learners.

Etymology

On the Q.T. comes from the older phrase on the quiet. One popular story says people wrote Q.T. as a short form of 'quiet' in notes and newspapers, so something done on the Q.T. was marked quiet and private. That's why on the Q.T. means 'in secret' today.