in petto
1. In private. This Italian phrase translates literally to "in the breast" in English. A: "Why did you want me to meet you in the basement?" B: "Because I have something important to tell you—in petto." No, I need to talk to you in petto—no one else can know about this. Shouldn't divorce proceedings be negotiated in petto, not in the court of public opinion?
2. An Italian phrase used to describe the private appointment of cardinals by the pope. He was appointed by the pope in petto, which is why none of us knew about it. A: "Wait, even you didn't know this was coming?" B: "No, the cardinal was selected in petto." The pope appointed the cardinal in petto, and the rest of us learned of it after the fact.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.