conspiracy of silence

American  

noun

1. a usually secret or unstated agreement to remain silent among those who know something whose disclosure might be damaging, harmful, or against their own best interest or that of their associates.

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conspiracy of silence Idioms  

1. A tacit or explicit agreement to keep something secret. For example, In this state's medical society there is a conspiracy of silence regarding incompetent practitioners. This term was first used as a complaint about lack of attention, but today it more often refers to remaining silent about something unfavorable or criminal. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of conspiracy of silence

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

An influential think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, points to what it calls a "conspiracy of silence" about the tough decisions required after the election.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2024

You might even call it a conspiracy of silence.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2023

Yet as I moved forward, the show’s indifference to her cross-cultural influences started to feel more like a conspiracy of silence than a choice of emphasis.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2021

Instead, Falwell “furthered the conspiracy of silence and negotiated a 2019 Employment Agreement that contained a higher salary from Liberty,” the suit said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2021

They are all in agreement with one another, and nothing is said; a conspiracy of silence surrounds their actions, and the facts are smothered, not a hint of them getting abroad.

From Peking Dust by La Motte, Ellen Newbold