hush-hush

[huhsh-huhsh]

adjective

1. highly secret or confidential.

   a hush-hush political investigation.

hush-hush

adjective

1. informal,  (esp of official work, documents, etc) secret; confidential

Word History and Origins

Origin of hush-hush¹

First recorded in 1915–20; reduplication based on hush

Example Sentences

“It was the kind of hush-hush tones in people, I knew something wasn’t right.”

From BBC

The hush-hush arrival of the couple’s newest family member shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering they have mostly kept details of their private life away from the public eye.

From Los Angeles Times

"The problem has been going on long enough, and everyone knows in their hearts the basic situation. There's no need to be hush-hush any more."

From BBC

Why do you think menopause has been a hush-hush topic in the past, and why is it so important that open conversations about it continue?

From Los Angeles Times

But between reminiscences, Bryan and Underwood shared a few hush-hush words about the future.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• confidential