Jump To:

• 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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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

“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

“The Next Generation” ensemble featured some of TV’s most adored talent, including Jonathan Frakes and LeVar Burton, on a crew steered behind the scenes by Roddenberry himself.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

But there is a degree of sympathy from some behind the scenes at Selhurst Park that the Frenchman has been dealt a difficult hand.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Working behind the scenes, a group of influential political figures had found an appropriate concert space for Anderson.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman

Pegula was among the players to complain about additional behind-the-scenes cameras at the Australian Open in January.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

BBC Verify visited an election centre in Maryland to get a behind-the-scenes look at how mail-in ballots are processed and counted.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 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

For all the derision heaped upon Sofia’s keen directorial eye and scrupulous vision, a behind-the-scenes look only makes the details all the more impressive.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Most important, from the point of view of the friendship, Jefferson admitted that his behind-the-scenes criticism of Adams had been a willful misrepresentation.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---