OPEN SECRET Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

open secret

noun

something supposedly secret but actually known quite generally.

open secret

noun

something that is supposed to be secret but is widely known

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of open secret¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Something that is supposedly clandestine but is in fact widely known, as in It's an open secret that both their children are adopted. This expression originated as the title of a Spanish play by Calderón, El Secreto a Voces (“The Noisy Secret”), which was translated by Carlo Gozzi into Italian as Il pubblico secreto (1769). In English the term came into general use during the 1800s.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It's an open secret in Westminster billions will be found for health and defence.

From

And even though his next destination was not mentioned in his emotional farewell video, it is an open secret that he will join his friend and England colleague Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid.

From

It’s an open secret that Nina privately performs abortions for those in the impoverished outlying villages.

From

But in pockets of the BBC there is real anger that bullying by individuals is an open secret - and there's a belief that complainants aren't protected.

From

It was an open secret that Hasina had no tolerance for political dissent.

From

open season on open sentence

Browse