Phrase guide

behind closed doors

prep_phrase · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In private; in one's private life; lacking (normal) public disclosure, in camera.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • What you do with your girlfriend behind closed doors is none of my business.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: closed door, with closed doors

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Without public spectators.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • Libya's opening home match in the World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon will be played at a neutral venue and behind closed doors, FIFA said on Friday. https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004158/http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/04/20/soccer-world-libya-idINDEE83J07G20120420

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

stored in a hidden place.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: خلف الأبواب المغلقة (ḵalfa l-ʔabwābi l-muḡlaqa) — in private
  • Czech: s vyloučením veřejnosti — in private
  • Dutch: achter gesloten deuren — in private
  • Dutch: binnenskamers — in private
  • Finnish: suljettujen ovien takana — in private
  • Finnish: suljetuin ovin — in private
  • French: à huis clos — in private
  • French: en privé — in private
  • German: hinter verschlossenen Türen — in private
  • Greek: κεκλεισμένων των θυρών (kekleisménon ton thyrón) — in private
  • Hebrew: בִּדְלָתַיִם סְגוּרוֹת (bidlatáyim sgurót) — in private
  • Hungarian: zárt ajtók mögött — in private
  • Hungarian: a négy fal között — in private
  • Icelandic: á bak við luktar dyr — in private
  • Italian: a porte chiuse — in private
  • Lithuanian: už uždarų durų — in private
  • Polish: za zamkniętymi drzwiami — in private
  • Portuguese: à porta fechada — in private
  • Portuguese: a portas fechadas — in private
  • Portuguese: entre quatro paredes — in private
  • Russian: за закры́тыми дверя́ми (za zakrýtymi dverjámi) — in private
  • Serbo-Croatian: iza zatvorenih vrata — in private
  • Spanish: a puerta cerrada — in private
  • Swedish: bakom lyckta dörrar — in private
  • Ukrainian: за закри́тими двери́ма (za zakrýtymy dverýma) — in private
  • Ukrainian: за зачи́неними двери́ма (za začýnenymy dverýma) — in private