in the know

1. Privy to special or secret information, as in Not too many people are in the know about this project. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Doors open at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights, but those in the know line up outside the building’s nondescript exterior as early as 6 p.m. to ensure a reasonable spot on the night’s roster of singers.

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"People love the exclusivity and the feeling of being 'in the know,'" Nas says, "many go to film and post about it. They're fun, they're free, and they often come with cute goody bags - which my audience loves."

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It’s also what everyone in the know keeps saying.

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“Their outrageous onstage presence was like pure metal theatrics on steroids, but ironically, their music was technically really good and catchy and not as chaotic as they appeared. If you weren’t in the know, you could look at it as ridiculous, but it’s pure camp, and their fan base truly gets it. It’s why they’ve been around for over 40 years.”

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Commissioner Adam Silver and others in the know floated a trial balloon Wednesday evening, revealing that the 2026 All-Star Game is likely to be a round-robin tournament consisting of three eight-player teams — two composed of U.S.-born players and one of players from other countries.

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Related Words

• astute 
• cagey 
• canny 
• crafty 
• farsighted 
• ingenious 
• judicious 
• keen 
• penetrating 
• perceptive 
• probing 
• prudent 
• sensible 
• sharp 
• slick 
• sly 
• smart 
• wily 
• wise