ENGLISH
REFERENCE

under the rose

idiom
Meaning

In secret; secretly, privately.


Origin

disputed origin

Calque of Latin sub rosā.

Examples
SIMPLE

They made the deal under the rose.

CONTEXTUAL

The employees discussed the new company policy under the rose to avoid trouble with their manager.

COMPLEX

The conspirators met under the rose to finalize their plans, ensuring that not a single word of their intentions reached the ears of the authorities.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    bloom is off the rose

    The person, object, or situation identified in the context has lost its novelty, freshness, appeal, or acceptability.

  2. 02

    rose garden

    A highly desirable situation.

  3. 03

    smell like a rose

    To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted or unharmed.

  4. 04

    stem the rose

    To have anal sex; to insert one's penis (stem) into another's anus (rose).

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