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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

“The justice often publicly portrayed as unyielding and inflexible is, behind the scenes, the conservative who is uniquely adept at finding common ground on the most divisive issues.”

From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026

He has also visited China -- which previously backed him behind the scenes, according to analysts -- as well as India and Russia.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Organizers had been unable to renew their contract, and Stern suspected something was happening behind the scenes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

The author of “Jungle Red!” on revelatory stories about women on camera and behind the scenes in Hollywood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

She also helped him very much behind the scenes with plans for the church and the community.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Since then there has been frenetic activity behind-the-scenes, mainly at Hillsborough Castle, to try to break the deadlock.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

On Monday, Andrew Bailey announced his departure as the bureau’s No. 2 official following behind-the-scenes tension with Patel.

From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026

This is an intimate, vulnerable portrayal of behind-the-scenes Hollywood — why was that important for you to examine?

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

My colleague Elliot Kaufman is out with his behind-the-scenes book account of Israel’s post-Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

“Thanks. I’m mostly here to do the behind-the-scenes interviews, but that’s nice of you.”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon