secret sauce

American  

[see-krit saws] / ˈsi krɪt ˈsɔs /

noun

1. a secret element, strategy, procedure, etc., that accounts for or increases the chances of success.

   The app's secret sauce is its simple interface.

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Etymology

Origin of secret sauce

From a so-called sauce for hamburgers whose ingredients are a closely held secret

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

secret sauce

Continental “co-production” is the secret sauce that makes U.S. manufacturing a powerhouse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

This must be part of the secret sauce — Wyatt’s dedication and consistency.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

And the secret in the secret sauce of HRT is estrogen.

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026

In the 2000s, derivatives created from subprime mortgages were accorded top credit ratings; now, the so-called illiquidity premium on portfolios of loans to small and midsize private companies is considered their secret sauce.

From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026

Its algorithm is the "secret sauce" that has driven the app's huge popularity.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026