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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
Information that is widely known, but not acknowledged openly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- At that time, the corruption in the mayor's office was an open secret.
- 1894, Alvan S. Southworth, "A Generation of the New York Bar", in Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (later The American Magazine), Volume XXXVII, page 427, It was an open secret in the profession at that time that Mr. Field had very explicit documentary evidence that would have made Mr. Evarts very uncomfortable had the Bar Association thrown down the gauntlet.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: secret of Polichinelle
Antonyms: none provided
Information that is not widely known, despite being freely available.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
Examples
- The wonderful dining options in this city are hidden gems — an open secret.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
something that is supposed to be secret but is generally known
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- their love affair was an open secret
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: secret
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
12 source translations are retained for this English entry.
-
Chinese Mandarin:
公開的秘密 /公开的秘密
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Czech:
veřejné tajemství
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Dutch:
publiek geheim
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Finnish:
julkinen salaisuus
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
French:
secret de Polichinelle
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
German:
offenes Geheimnis
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Hungarian:
nyílt titok
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Indonesian:
rahasia umum
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Italian:
segreto di pulcinella
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Japanese:
公然の秘密
(kōzen no himitsu)
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Polish:
tajemnica poliszynela
— widely known fact not mentioned
-
Spanish:
secreto a voces
— widely known fact not mentioned
