behind closed doors

idiom

: in a private room or place : in private
All of their meetings are held behind closed doors.
They seemed like the perfect couple, but you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
The decisions are made behind closed doors.

Examples of behind closed doors in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are set to testify separately behind closed doors in the committee’s Epstein investigation later this month. Reuters wire Service, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026 Hospitals and insurers regularly renegotiate rates, but those discussions are usually handled behind closed doors and are typically resolved before patients feel an impact. Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026 This is happening behind closed doors. John Manly, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 The former governor was asked by Chrystia Freeland, a former deputy prime minister of Canada, what Republicans say to each other behind closed doors. Sophie Brams, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behind closed doors

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behind closed doors.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20closed%20doors. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster