have a hidden talent
To have a particular skill or ability that few people know one possesses. Come on, just tell me—what's your hidden talent? Well, I do have one hidden talent—I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue! I can speed-read, so I guess you could say I have a hidden talent.
hidden agenda
A secret goal or an ulterior motive. I didn't trust Julie when she started being really nice to me out of the blue. It felt like she had a hidden agenda. I'm starting to wonder if the boss has a hidden agenda because he promised me the job but now he won't return my calls. Ah, so that's their hidden agenda: buy up all the competition and then raise prices however high they want.
hidden depths
1. Robust or complex aspects or characteristics that are not easily noticed or readily apparent. While the film makes no apologies for its graphic, over-the-top violence, there are hidden depths to the characters and their motivations that make this much more than just some schlocky B-movie. If you get to know him, you come to realize that his ironic, apathetic public demeanor is on show to hide hidden depths of anguish and insecurity. No, don't try to defend him. There are no hidden depths to this guy—he's just a money-grubbing creep!
2. A place or part of something that is hidden away and requires a lot of searching or prior knowledge. I'm hesitant to give my child access to the Internet, knowing full well what horrible things lie in its hidden depths. Astronomers have discovered a new solar system in the hidden depths of space. You won't believe what I found in the hidden depths of the attic—Grandma's handmade Christmas decorations!
hidden gem
That which is of exceptional or underappreciated quality but is not especially popular or widely known. It may not have been a huge success, but this film is a real hidden gem from the 1980s. The reviewer calls the restaurant one of the hidden gems of Manhattan. Did you see that antique vase? Molly always finds the best hidden gems at the thrift shop!
hidden in plain sight
Concealed or unseen despite being in full, unrestricted view. Oh, my candy is hidden in plain sight—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! Those crooks were hidden in plain sight all this time? Geez, talk about terrible police work! I wouldn't be surprised if the kidnapped girl is hidden in plain sight now. They could have easily just whisked her into a crowded store.
hidden in plain view
Concealed or unseen despite being in full, unrestricted view. Oh, my candy is hidden in plain view—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! Those crooks were hidden in plain view all this time? Geez, talk about terrible police work! I wouldn't be surprised if the kidnapped girl is hidden in plain view now. They could have easily just whisked her into a crowded store.
hide (one's) light under a bushel
To avoid utilizing or emphasizing one's talents. Don't give up drawing! You're a talented artist and shouldn't hide your light under a bushel. You have a beautiful singing voice, so you should absolutely sing at Mass. Don't hide your light under a bushel! I'm sure your story of coping with depression would help at least one of these kids. Don't hide your light under a bushel, now.
hide (someone or something) in plain sight
To conceal someone or something so that they or it go unnoticed despite being in full, unrestricted view. Oh, I hide my candy in plain sight—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! I wouldn't be surprised if they're hiding the kidnapped girl in plain sight. They probably ducked into a crowded store and are blending in with their surroundings. I've been wearing an engagement ring for three days, hiding it in plain sight, and none of you noticed!
hide (someone or something) in plain view
To conceal someone or something so that they or it go unnoticed despite being in full, unrestricted view. Oh, I hide my candy in plain view—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! I wouldn't be surprised if they're hiding the kidnapped girl in plain view. They probably ducked into a crowded store and are blending in with their surroundings. I've been wearing an engagement ring for three days, hiding it in plain view, and none of you noticed!
hide behind (someone or something)
1. Literally, to place oneself behind someone or something in order not to be seen, noticed, or interacted with. The child hid behind her mother when the strange man came up to talk to them. We hid behind the sofa to surprise Sarah when she came in the room. I hid behind Zach when I noticed the neighbor's dog running toward us.
2. To conceal someone or something behind someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "hide" and "behind." She hid her boyfriend behind the wardrobe when her parents came up to talk to her. I have no idea why the dog loves hiding his toys behind our dresser. Luckily, I was able to hide the gift behind my back before Andrea noticed it.
3. To deflect blame, responsibility, or attention to someone or something else. I'm so sick of these CEOs hiding behind their PR mouthpieces whenever scandal strikes. You can't just hide behind your parents when you get into trouble. There's no one to hide behind when you're the manager and a massive mistake like this originates in your department.
4. To use something in order to cover up or conceal something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "hide" and "behind." It became clear that the company had been hiding its illegal activities behind its overseas subsidiary. She's hid her anguish behind a cheery smile, so no one ever suspected that she was in so much pain. I always tried to hide my weight behind baggy clothing.
hide from (someone or something)
1. To physically conceal someone or something so as to avoid detection by someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "hide" and "from." You need to hide these cookies from the kids if you plan to have any left for the bake sale tomorrow. Luckily, my bodyguard hid me from the attackers. Luckily, I was able to hide the gift from Andrea before she noticed it.
2. To physically conceal oneself as a way to avoid someone or something. Mom, you just yelled at her—of course she's hiding from you! A: "What are you guys doing on the porch?" B: "Oh, just hiding from the rain." To hide from the neighbor's dog, I ducked behind the hedges.
hide in (something)
1. To physically conceal someone or something in some thing or place so as to avoid detection. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "hide" and "in." Hide Susie in the bathroom and tell her to jump out and yell "Surprise!" when Mom gets here. A: "It is true that Paul's hiding an engagement ring in his sock drawer?" B: "Yeah, and his would-be fiancée already found it!" She hid her boyfriend in the closet when she heard her parents coming.
2. To physically conceal oneself in some thing or place so as to avoid detection. Susie's hiding in the bathroom until Mom gets home—then, she's going to jump out and yell "Surprise!" Apparently, all the shrieking was because Lily found crickets hiding in the laundry basket. A: "Why are you hiding in the hedges?" B: "Because the neighbor's dog got loose and was running around out here!"
hide in plain sight
1. To remain unseen despite being in full, unrestricted view. You know, I bet those crooks are hiding in plain sight. They probably ducked into a crowded store and are blending in with the other customers. Oh, I hide my candy in plain sight—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! I wouldn't be surprised if they're hiding the kidnapped girl in plain sight now. They could have easily just whisked her into a crowded store.
2. To remain unchanged without protest or complaint despite being plainly or obviously apparent. The inequality of living conditions faced by people of different backgrounds in this city has been hiding in plain sight for decades. Mental health issues just hide in plain sight when people can't get the care they need. No one administration can address all the problems that have been hiding in plain sight for decades.
hide in plain view
1. To remain unseen despite being in full, unrestricted view. You know, I bet those crooks are hiding in plain view. They probably ducked into a crowded store and are blending in with the other customers. Oh, I hide my candy in plain view—I just put it in that old, empty coffee can on the counter! I wouldn't be surprised if they're hiding the kidnapped girl in plain view now. They could have easily just whisked her into a crowded store.
2. To remain unchanged without protest or complaint despite being plainly or obviously apparent. The inequality of living conditions faced by people of different backgrounds in this city has been hiding in plain view for decades. Mental health issues just hide in plain view when people can't get the care they need. No one administration can address all the problems that have been hiding in plain view for decades.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.