in private

Idioms  

1. Not in public; secretly, confidentially. For example, The hearings will be conducted in private, or May I speak to you in private? [Late 1500s] For an antonym, see in public.

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Example Sentences

Bessent’s public criticism of Powell follows the disclosure of a Justice Department investigation of the Fed that, in private, troubled Bessent, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wage growth in the UK eased to 4.5% between September and November, official figures suggest, following a sharp slowdown in private sector pay increases.

From BBC

He said it should be up to the head of an inquiry to decide whether information was relevant, adding there were already national security exemptions that allowed evidence to be heard in private.

From BBC

But online and in private, there are some who complain that the new restrictions go too far.

From BBC

Old Hunter, an ex-police detective now working in private security, disturbs Chen’s depressive apathy with a request that he help find a man called X, a former philosophy professor who ran afoul of authorities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• covert
• enigmatic
• reticent
• taciturn