down-low

American  

[doun-loh] / ˈdaʊnˈloʊ /

Or downlow

adjective

1. of or pertaining to men who secretly or discreetly have sex with other men.

   She once dated a down-low guy.

2. secret; discreet; low-profile.

---

idioms

1. on the down-low,

   1. (of a man) secretly or discreetly engaging in sex with other men.

   2. done secretly or in a discreet manner.

      Okay I'll tell you, but keep it on the down-low.

Usage

What else does down-low mean? Content warning: the following content includes references to sexual activity.Something on the down-low is secret or private.Down-low can also specifically refer to Black men who secretly have sex.

Etymology

Origin of down-low

First recorded in 1990-95; down ¹ ( def. ) + low ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Of all the dirty, rotten, down-low things Netflix has done, providing a gaping pit of gold coins for Adam Sandler to cannonball into like Scrooge McDuck might be the worst so far.

From Salon

While the audition came to her as a role in an “untitled Disney+ project,” she’d heard on the down-low that it was for a “Star Wars” project.

From Los Angeles Times

Club 33 stays on the down-low with discreet rules and even a dress code.

From Los Angeles Times

And a week after shooting the first season of the show, she was hospitalized, she said, but it was “really, really covered up and kept on the down-low because the show was going to be coming out.”

From Los Angeles Times

The space opened on the relatively down-low, but should be operational most nights at 5 p.m., serving as a low-key way to escape the parks and add a welcome elevated bar space to the resort.

From Los Angeles Times