in the dark

Idioms  

1. In secret, in concealment, as in This agreement was concluded in the dark . [Early 1600s]

2. In a state of ignorance, uninformed, as in I was in the dark about their plans . This metaphor often appears in the locution keep someone in the dark , meaning “deliberately keep someone uninformed,” as in They kept me in the dark about their plans . [Late 1600s] For an antonym, see in the know .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in the dark

Speaking on Monday, a spokesman for the IG Metall called Blume's memo "superficial" and said employees were still left in the dark.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

The change is going to help “hundreds of thousands” of taxpayers who were in the dark about the existing abatement process, according to Erin Collins, the IRS’s national taxpayer advocate.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Cuban officials said on Tuesday that most of the country had had power restored but locals shouted "turn on the lights!" in areas still in the dark.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The justices do this increasingly on the fly and in the dark.

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

My whole body tensed as I imagined what that would be like, sitting beside him in the dark, our breaths fogging on the crisp air.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows