hush-hush
13
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
243
6.3
Working secretly to get information about people and groups
205
5.3
Not shared with others because it should be secret
153
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
125
1.1
A thing that is not easily seen or found
117
6.8
Done secretly to avoid being seen or known
115
5.8
Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention
40
8.2
Kept secret because it is illegal or not allowed
37
5.8
Kept secret and not told to other people
28
6.0
Most people do not know about it
15
4.2
A private meeting or place that people keep secret
7
8.5
Done secretly because people would disapprove
5
8.9
Being secret and mysterious like spy stories
5
3.7
Hidden so people cannot see it
3
7.4
Very private and known by only a few people
1
7.5
People in power keep it secret to hide a problem
1
7.2
Kept secret from the public, often about meetings or plans
Done in a secret way to hide plans
A secret way of doing things to hide small dishonest acts
Not told to others until a set time or event
Kept secret on purpose so people do not know about it
Antonyms
How Secret
- Formal
65
5.9
- Formal
40
8.2
205
5.3
- Informal
13
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.