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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

But Windrose workers in America—and now in China too—say that behind the scenes, the company was running out of money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

"A lot of things are completely beyond our control -- communication often takes place behind the scenes," he said, adding that refinery workers often learned more from the press than from management.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

Will Sonia's memoir shed new light on that extraordinary decision - or offer a very different account of what really happened behind the scenes?

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Plus, we catch up with pop’s breakout star Olivia Dean and take you behind the scenes of our latest reporting on Flock cameras.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 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

He shared behind-the-scenes footage of the recording session and said that he “didn’t expect to travel so far and hear ‘Dale Don Dale’ as a ringtone on almost every phone” in the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

But it’s also one that, as Ocasio-Cortez’s behind-the-scenes videos depict, is expensive, uncomfortable, and painful to pursue.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

Recently, a new season of “Hard Knocks” premiered, HBO’s behind-the-scenes journey through one American pro football team’s pre-season training camp.

From Salon ● Aug. 7, 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

But Mya sent me a behind-the-scenes Snap video earlier this afternoon, taken seconds after this picture, which revealed that Camila still has no clue how to surf.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott