# hide in plain sight

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hide-in-plain-sight
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be unnoticeable, by staying visible in a setting that masks presence.

## Examples

- The keys were hiding in plain sight on the table.
- The criminal managed to hide in plain sight by working as a waiter in the very restaurant the police were searching.
- The ancient artifact had been hiding in plain sight for centuries, disguised as a common garden ornament in the museum courtyard.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.