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• behind the scenes
  behind the scenes

  idiom

  in secret or in private.
• behind-the-scenes
  behind-the-scenes

  adjective

  happening or conducted out of view of the general public.

behind the scenes

¹ American  

[bih-hahynd thuh seenz] / bɪˈhaɪnd ðə ˈsinz /

idiom

1. in secret or in private.

   Unbeknownst to most people, the group manipulated the survey results from behind the scenes.

2. in a part of a show, production, organization, etc., that is not visible to the public; backstage.

   Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes at a rock concert?

   Join us as we take you behind the scenes of our photo shoot and discuss some of the products used.

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behind-the-scenes ² American  

[bih-hahynd-thuh-seenz] / bɪˈhaɪnd ðəˈsinz /

adjective

1. happening or conducted out of view of the general public.

   The behind-the-scenes preparations made the convention a huge success.

2. held or kept privately by or among a few key or influential people.

   There are rumors of behind-the-scenes negotiations taking place that may change international laws on nuclear power.

3. occurring backstage.

   I could hear the behind-the-scenes activities of the stage crew.

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behind the scenes More Idioms  

1. In secret or private, away from public view, as in His struggle for the top position took place strictly behind the scenes. This term alludes to the various activities that go on behind the curtain in theaters, out of the audience's view. [Late 1700s] Also see behind closed doors.

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Etymology

Origin of behind the scenes¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Origin of behind-the-scenes²

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

behind the scenes behind-the-scenes

"Sanctions are all on paper, but the hard work is behind the scenes," Hammouda added.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

When the cameras start rolling on Celebrity MasterChef, the contestants may be the ones sweating over the stoves, but there is plenty going on behind the scenes.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

“I want to give the opening of schools the space that it deserves,” Chait said, “but of course, behind the scenes, folks are already working.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

TCIM, which has about $3.8 billion of assets under management, rarely gets involved in public activist fights and is known for engaging with companies behind the scenes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

In Wyoming, a group of the wives of elected officials had worked behind the scenes to convince their husbands to support female suffrage.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

After weeks of behind-the-scenes wrangling, the Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to approve two settlement agreements with Charter that allowed the merger to move forward.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Meanwhile, there are efforts to overcome a behind-the-scenes barrier between doctors and dentists: records systems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The picture was set to Swift's song, Love Story, while another post, set to The Fate of Ophelia, took her fans behind-the-scenes as she and her partner Danny Ramirez got ready for the nuptials.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Watch the video above for a behind-the-scenes look at the people who keep the park running.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

“I’m making the best movie I can make, and that includes the behind-the-scenes interviews. I thought that’s what you wanted too, Sahil.”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon