hush-hush
26
7.5
- adjective
- /ˈhʌʃˌhʌʃ/
- Informal
- The details of the project were kept hush-hush to prevent leaks before the announcement.
- kept hush-hush
- hush-hush operation
- hush-hush wedding
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Watch on YouTubeBig boy stories told by Peacock strutting boys, hush hush, but loud enough to be heard by everyone passing by the yard.
- Big boy stories told by Peacock strutting boys, hush hush, but loud enough to be heard by everyone passing by the yard.
Examples
-
On something that's supposed to be very hush-hush.
-
Some of his work was very hush-hush.
Fiction book (1995) -
It's all very hush-hush but everybody in the family knows about it.
-
A very hush-hush secret development.
-
We kept them hush-hush and sent agents into the field for data.
Fiction book (1998) -
We're so hush-hush, even we know nothing about it.
Fiction book (1998) -
This entire operation's supposed to be hush-hush.
-
Please, Betty, keep it hush-hush.
-
So there's no real reason to be so hush-hush about it.
Blog text (11) -
Chief Smith has a source on the Hud board—very senior, very hush-hush.
Fiction book (1994)
Synonyms
∞
2.0
Hidden so other people do not know about it
801
1.1
A thing that is not easily seen or found
374
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
180
5.3
Not shared with others because it should be secret
136
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
129
6.8
Done secretly to avoid being seen or known
106
5.8
Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention
103
4.2
A private meeting or place that people keep secret
95
3.7
Hidden so people cannot see it
68
4.8
Not told to others until a set time or event
40
8.2
Kept secret because it is illegal or not allowed
38
5.8
Kept secret and not told to other people
31
6.0
Most people do not know about it
29
5.7
Kept secret on purpose so people do not know about it
18
7.4
Very private and known by only a few people
9
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
8
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
7
8.5
Done secretly because people would disapprove
1
7.5
People in power keep it secret to hide a problem
Done in a secret way to hide plans
A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts
Antonyms
How Secret
- Formal
55
5.9
- Formal
40
8.2
180
5.3
- Informal
26
7.5
∞
2.0
∞
1.8
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hush-hush comes from the simple word hush, which you say to tell someone to 'be quiet', and saying it twice makes it extra quiet or 'secret'. So hush-hush means something kept very quiet or 'private' to avoid attention.