Idiom idiom
worst-kept secret
Meaning
A situation where little or no attempt has been made to keep a matter secret.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“Their relationship is the worst-kept secret in the office.”
“Everyone knew they were quitting their jobs, so it was the worst-kept secret in the company.”
“The impending merger had become the worst-kept secret in the industry, circulating through every boardroom long before the official announcement.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026