be in on
phr. v..phr. v.. to be part of a group that knows a secret or is involved in a private plan.
phr. v.. to be privy to or a participant in a secret, scheme, or specific activity.
Are you in on the surprise party?
Only a few managers were in on the plan to sell the company before the news went public.
While the public remained unaware of the impending merger, several high-level executives had been in on the negotiations for months.
- Particles
- in on
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- be + in + on + object
usually followed by a noun phrase representing a secret, joke, or plan.
contrast with 'be in' (to be at home/office); the addition of 'on' shifts the meaning from physical location to shared knowledge or participation.
He was in the secret.He was in on the secret.the preposition 'on' is required to show participation in a plan or secret.