hidden

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!
See also: have, 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.
See also: agenda, hidden

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.
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.
See also: depth, hidden

hidden in plain sight

Concealed or unseen 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!
See also: hidden, plain, sight

hidden in plain view

Concealed or unseen 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!
See also: hidden, plain, view

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.
See also: hide, plain, sight

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.
See also: hide, plain, view

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.
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.
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.
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.
See also: behind, hide

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.
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."
See also: hide

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!"
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.
See also: hide

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.
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.
See also: hide, plain, sight

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.
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.
See also: hide, plain, view
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have a hidden talent

 and have hidden talents
Fig. to have talents or skills that no one knows about. Wow, Perry! I didn't know you had so many hidden talents.
See also: have, hidden, talent

(a) hidden agenda

Fig. a secret plan; a concealed plan; a plan disguised as a plan with another purpose. I am sure that the chairman has a hidden agenda. I never did trust him anyway.
See also: agenda, hidden
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a hidden agenda

COMMON If someone has a hidden agenda, they are secretly trying to achieve something while they appear to be doing something else. The unions fear these tactics are part of a hidden agenda to reduce pay and conditions throughout the company. The hidden agenda of the Government's prison privatisation policy seems to have been exposed. Note: An agenda is a list of things that need to be dealt with, for example at a meeting.
See also: agenda, hidden
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

hidden depths

admirable but previously unnoticed qualities.
See also: depth, hidden

a hidden agenda

a person's real but concealed aims and intentions.
1993 New Scientist I hear that the physics community is fearful the government has a hidden agenda and intends eventually to close the Daresbury Laboratory.
See also: agenda, hidden
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • have a hidden talent
  • talent
  • underground
  • go underground
  • off one's chest, get
  • get (something) off (one's) chest
  • get off chest
  • get something off your chest
  • a catch to it
  • catch to it
References in periodicals archive
The epiphany to uncovering hidden profits involves shifting the way one thinks about pricing.
Fine-tuning your pricing strategy: uncovering 'hidden profits'
Cal-Am's Steven Leonard later admitted in a telephone interview that the entire rate structure itself was wrong, and Chualar and Hidden Hills should never have been put under the same tiered rates.
Water woes: private companies raise the rates on those who can least afford it
Through active listening, sensitive facilitation, and careful interviewing, some broad categories of inquiry can help a university begin to understand its own hidden curriculum.
The metacurriculum: guarding the golden apples of university culture
SH: And this movement returns us to the intriguing notions of God as Hidden and Incomprehensible.
This side of god: A conversation with David Tracy
In the end, Marash said, most of the hidden cam requests are turned down, sometimes with marching orders: Do more reporting.
A WATCHFUL EYE
The enemy of hidden law is not government, as such.
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
Late last year the network was embarrassed by veteran correspondent Mike Wallace's questionable use of a hidden camera.
Gotcha!
For all of us, the family had been a prison camp--a normal everyday horror, fully known and hidden."
Skin
I learned then that the hidden nature of my symptoms caused psychological torment often more difficult to endure than the physical distress.
The psychological impact of hidden MS
If someone wants to see or engage with the hidden reply, they can tap on a grey icon that will appear above the replies section.
Twitter is testing a way to hide replies
Then quickly (sic) drag the folder with the apps that needs to be hidden (ABC folder) into the newly created folder (XYZ folder).
Apple iOS 7.1: 10 Steps to Hide Folders And Apps From Your iPhone And iPad
Each colorful two-page spread invites the reader to look for hidden objects, ranging from raccoons and spoons to mops and flip-flops.
Hide!!!
Take a vacation and blend in some active sports or activities and you have an 'adventure getaway' of the type Ulysses Press specializes in--and one out of the ordinary, as its 'Hidden' series covers.
Hidden British Columbia
The engineered mice behaved much as normal ones did in tests of general cognition, such as learning the location of a platform hidden under water.
Model for madness: engineered mice have schizophrenia-like symptoms
Four new titles join others in Ulysses' outstanding 'Hidden' travel series of state guides blending vacation with adventure options to appeal to those who want a taste of adventure without the white water.
Ulysses Press