hush-hush
Meaning
Kept secret or confidential; not meant to be publicly known.
Origin
From the interjection “hush!” meaning “be quiet,” reduplicated as “hush-hush” to stress silence and secrecy; recorded in English from the early 20th century.
Notes
Means “secret/confidential.” Often used informally about plans, deals, investigations, or relationships; can sound slightly gossipy or tabloid-like.
Examples
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The merger talks are hush-hush until the board approves them.
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They hired a security firm for a hush-hush investigation into the data leak.
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Keep it hush-hush, but we’re planning a surprise party for Maya.
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The witness was placed in a hush-hush location for their safety.
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The government launched a hush-hush operation to recover the stolen documents.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually hyphenated. Functions as an adjective (“a hush-hush meeting”) or adverbially with keep/stay (“keep it hush-hush,” “the talks stayed hush-hush”). Not typically pluralized; don’t use it as a verb.
Synonyms
- secret
- confidential
- covert
- clandestine
- under the table
- classified
Antonyms
- open
- public
- aboveboard
- out in the open