Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
on the hush

on the hush

1 8.6
In secret and quietly so nobody finds out
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : en secreto
  • The negotiations were carried out on the hush to avoid media attention.

Examples

  • They managed to handle the situation on the hush, so nobody found out.

  • They planned the surprise party on the hush.

  • We decided to keep our plans on the hush until everything was finalized.

  • Can you keep this on the hush?

  • They planned the surprise party for their friend on the hush to keep it a secret.

  • The company decided to conduct the negotiations on the hush to avoid any public backlash.

  • She shared her plans to move to Europe on the hush, not wanting anyone to know just yet.

Synonyms

secretly
vson the hush
261 1.4

In a way that other people do not know

is done quietly and without attracting attention
in secret
vson the hush
56 2.5

In a way other people do not know

adds quiet action and lack of visible attention to that secrecy
on the Q.T.
vson the hush
  • Informal
40 9.9

In secret so other people do not know

is quieter, emphasizing not drawing attention as well as secrecy
under wraps
vson the hush
  • Informal
28 6.0

Most people do not know about it

is more about quiet, unnoticed action than public concealment alone
covertly
vson the hush
17 6.9

In a secret way so other people do not know

focuses more on quiet avoidance of notice rather than just hiding
hush-hush
vson the hush
  • Informal
13 7.5

People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed

stresses quiet conduct and not attracting notice in addition to secrecy
stealthily
vson the hush
8 5.7

In a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen

includes secret action but also stresses low visibility and silence
clandestinely
vson the hush
  • Formal
4 8.0

In a secret way to avoid being seen or found

is similar but highlights quietness and lack of attention rather than only avoidance
secretively
vson the hush
1 6.1

In a quiet way that hides what you do or think

is an action done quietly and without attracting attention rather than a habit
under the rose
vson the hush
  • Literature
9.5

In secret so only a few people know

adds the idea of acting quietly and avoiding visible attention

Antonyms

in public
339 1.0

Other people can see or hear you

in the open
104 2.5

In public and not hidden so other people can see or hear

How Secret

clandestinely
  • Formal
4 8.0
on the hush
  • Informal
1 8.6
in private
249 2.4
openly
303 1.6

Surface Forms

on the hush positive
on-the-hush positive

Morphology

on + the + hush

The meaning is partially derivable because 'hush' denotes silence and 'on' + noun phrase ('on the hush') can be interpreted as being in a state of quietness, so a learner could infer a sense of doing something quietly or discreetly. However, using 'hush' to mean 'secretly' and the specific collocation 'on the hush' (rather than the more common 'hush-hush' or 'on the sly') is somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

On the hush comes from the word hush, what people say when they want silence. Imagine people lowering their voices to hide news, and you can see why it means 'in secret'.