secret
secret — noun
1. information that you know but do not want other people to find out, because it i
information that you know but do not want other people to find out, because it is private or sharing it could cause problems
Shirin told Nikhil a secret and made him promise not to share it with anyone.
tell + secret + promise not to share
The hospital keeps all patient medical records a strictly guarded secret.
collocation: strictly guarded secret
Noa accidentally let the secret about the surprise party slip at dinner.
If I tell you about the gift for Sade, can you keep a secret?
- confidence
more formal; usually in the phrase 'in confidence' or 'in strict confidence'
- classified information
specifically about government/military secrets with legal protection
- private matter
broader; something personal but not necessarily intentionally hidden
- public knowledge
information that anyone can know
文法句型
tell someone a secret
keep something a secret
in secret
用法筆記
Frequently used in fixed collocations: tell a secret, keep a secret, let a secret slip, share a secret. The uncountable form appears in the phrase in secret, meaning 'in a hidden or private way' — for example, They met in secret.
常見錯誤
2. a truth about something that most people do not know or understand, often someth
a truth about something that most people do not know or understand, often something mysterious or not yet discovered
The secrets of the ancient temple have fascinated historians for over a century.
collocation: secrets of [mysterious subject]
No one knows the secret of how the huge stone blocks crossed the desert.
Élise wondered about the secret behind the strange glow in the abandoned lighthouse.
Deep beneath the ice, the frozen lake holds secrets that scientists are eager to explore.
- known fact
something established and understood
文法句型
the secrets of + noun
holds secrets
unlock the secrets of
用法筆記
This sense emphasises the mystery aspect — something that is not yet understood. Often used in the plural (the secrets of the universe). Distinguished from sense 1 by scope: sense 2 is about unknown truths that belong to a field or place, not personal private information.
常見錯誤
3. the special knowledge, method, or skill that makes someone very good at a partic
the special knowledge, method, or skill that makes someone very good at a particular activity — for example, the secret ingredient in a chef's sauce or the reason a teacher can keep a class calm
Lucas says the secret to good bread is letting dough rest for a full day.
pattern: the secret to + [noun]
The company protects its drink recipe as a trade secret known only to two employees.
collocation: trade secret
Good teachers know that patience is the real secret to managing a noisy classroom.
Renata's secret for learning new languages is to practise for fifteen minutes every day.
文法句型
the secret to + noun/gerund
the secret for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Typically follows the pattern the secret to + noun or gerund (the secret to good coffee, the secret to losing weight). When referring to a company's protected formula or process, trade secret is the standard collocation and is a legal term.
常見錯誤
secret — adjective
1. not revealed or shown to anyone beyond a small group, or put where others cannot
not revealed or shown to anyone beyond a small group, or put where others cannot see or find it
The two friends had a secret meeting spot behind the old oak tree.
collocation: secret meeting place
Shirin sent Pim a secret message written in invisible ink inside a library book.
collocation: secret message
The team built a secret underground room where they could store their equipment.
Jessica and her brother planned a secret party for their mother's sixtieth birthday.
- hidden
emphasises physical concealment; less formal
- confidential
formal; about information shared in trust, often in professional settings
- covert
describes actions done secretly, especially military or intelligence operations
文法句型
a secret + noun
keep something secret
remain secret
用法筆記
Can be used both before a noun (a secret plan, a secret document) and after linking verbs (keep it secret, remain secret). When applied to a person in this sense, it means the person keeps things hidden — see sense 2 for a different usage with people.
常見錯誤
2. referring to an activity, interest, or emotion that someone keeps to themselves
referring to an activity, interest, or emotion that someone keeps to themselves without letting others know, often out of shyness or a wish for privacy
Nikhil is a secret chocolate lover who only eats sweets when nobody is watching.
pattern: a secret + [noun describing a person's habit]
Sayaka is a secret fan of that singer and hides it from her friends.
Élise's grandmother was a secret painter who never showed her work to anyone.
Despite his tough image, Chidi is a secret romantic who writes poems at home.
- unacknowledged
more formal; something a person does not admit to having
- covert
stronger connotation of deliberate concealment, often with a negative slant
- private
broader; describes something simply not shared, not necessarily hidden
文法句型
a secret + noun describing a person (habit, identity, or feeling)
用法筆記
Always used directly before a noun that describes a person's identity, habit, or characteristic: a secret drinker, a secret admirer, a secret passion, a secret talent. Not used predicatively ('He is secret' does not carry this meaning). Distinguish from sense 1: in this sense, the person themselves is hiding an aspect of their life.