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

Now, Infantino is trying to rescue as much of it as he can by first apologizing for keeping so much of the organization in the dark around the FFE proposal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

"We live practically like fireflies here -- in the dark all the time. You never know when you'll have power; it's our sad reality," Julian Gonzalez, a 72-year-old carpenter, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

While the president appears to believe that Warsh wants to lower rates, Wall Street economists say they are in the dark, with the new chair remaining mum on key points.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

"There just isn't enough guidance for businesses, we're scrabbling around in the dark trying to do our best," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

We cried then, and clung to one another in the dark of the garden.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo