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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

behind the scenes behind-the-scenes

“She didn’t give big speeches. I was giving big speeches. She wasn’t that person. She was the person that, behind the scenes, did all the work. Smart, tough, serious.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

So many people have done work behind the scenes now to prepare.

From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026

Follow Isabelle Bousquette on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and TikTok for more behind the scenes on her tech and AI coverage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

But it would describe specific work that Navatek was already planning to do behind the scenes, making it the only logical choice for the eventual government contract.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

We’d also shared hilarious moments behind the scenes, trying on each other’s makeup, giggling about boys, and coming up with spur-of-the-moment games on long, boring afternoons.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

But even better news for Amazon's All or Nothing camera crews, who have been given "unprecedented" access to document the behind-the-scenes goings-on at Old Trafford this season.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

A video of the meeting was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser who frequently shares behind-the-scenes images of Trump on social media.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

A bystander captured a behind-the-scenes snippet of the 59-year-old, who was seen speaking to a female reporter, likely part of the Apple TV team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

The famously behind-the-scenes collaborator, singing evocatively, has come up with a potent range of Americana, including his own turns on the story song that we might as well call Bernie ballads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

“I’m not getting up in front of the whole school and giving a speech. I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, okay?”

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

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