the silent majority

the silent majority

A majority of people who hold a certain opinion but do not state it publicly. Although the polls suggested the newcomer would be defeated in the election, the silent majority apparently wanted her in office.
See also: majority, silent
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

silent majority

A group that makes up a majority of voters but does not widely express its views through marches or demonstrations. For example, They thought they had a convincing case, but they hadn't counted on the silent majority. This idiom was first recorded in 1874 but gained currency in the 1960s, when President Richard Nixon claimed that his policies were supported by a majority of citizens who did not bother to make their views known.
See also: majority, silent
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the silent majority

The silent majority in a country or a group are the large group of people who do not express their opinions publicly. If he talks about a silent majority in favour of this, I think he is mistaken. His consistently poor judgment is a source of deep concern to the silent majority of party members.
See also: majority, silent
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the silent majority

the majority of people, regarded as holding moderate opinions but rarely expressing them.
This phrase was first particularly associated with the US President Richard Nixon , who claimed in his 1968 presidential election campaign to speak for this segment of society.
1998 Spectator Independent-thinking columnists claimed a silent majority loathed Di mania and maybe they were right.
See also: majority, silent
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌsilent maˈjority

the large number of people in a country who think the same as each other, but do not express their views publicly: The government is appealing to the silent majority to support its foreign policy.The US President, Richard Nixon, used this phrase during the Vietnam War.
See also: majority, silent
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • silent majority
  • be/go on record
  • go on record
  • beat (one's) breast
  • beat your breast
  • welfare
  • be on welfare
  • be the power behind the throne
  • be on relief
  • be on the dole
References in periodicals archive
If you're in the silent majority, slip on the new, top-of-the-line Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 ($400).
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
Get in Sadly, the silent majority of Scotland accept these gaffes with a weary shrug that this is how Scotland is being represented now.
Rebels with a football; RECORD READERS
This is, as it stands, on behalf of 45% of the population who choose to vote, with the silent majority sitting on their political hands.
How credible to voters are our politicians?
The remaining millions, that is the silent majority, I would like to think agree with a lot of what he says, especially about Immigration.
All the pot banging over Trump's visit is shameful and futile
Some 20 members of the group called 'The Silent Majority' protested outside the Senate on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to defend the Constitution by proceeding with the impeachment trial of ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Silent Majority asks senators to proceed with impeachment trial of Sereno
I believe that I speak for the silent majority, who are reluctant to speak out for fear of being labelled a racist, which they are not.
Brits deserve council homes; Letters
Ayed Al-Mannaa told KUNA that the silent majority in its political approach does not exist in Kuwait, however, there is a large number of people who have no interest in politics or in elections, but can make a change in the elections.
"Silent majority"... a winning card in elections when their silence is broken
10) for celebrating too hard about what he calls the choice of the silent majority.
Letters
NNA - Minister of the Displaced, Alice Chabtini, said on Thursday that "Lebanon can not bear additional shocks, especially that the reasons behind boycotting cabinet sessions are not worthy of destructing the country." "I represent the silent majority in the country, a majority that refuses escalation and does not endorse the opinions of Minister Gebran Bassil (...).
Chabtini: Lebanon cannot bear additional shocks
Khamis Gulab in a press statement after the meeting said the silent majority delegation briefed Mbeki on their vision for peace in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile and the need to be involves in negotiation to become part of the solution .
SPLM delegation meets Mbeki
Send the message from the silent majority that enough is enough societynotcommunity Really?
TWEETS & POSTS
And what does it say about the silent majority of fellow supporters near them, who did nothing about it.
Ched chants shame club
"Payday lenders don't speak for the silent majority. They are responsible for a quiet crisis of thousands of families trapped in unpayable debt.
THE WONGA ECONOMY; Miliband's scathing attack on..
The silent majority which we Egyptians call " Kanaba (couch) people," are in reality the large group of citizens buried in their own daily struggle to survive and keep afloat in very dire days.
A not-so-silent majority
#EgyConstitution : The Silent Majority is back For real It is like the silent majority is back to its silence.
Blasphemer! Egyptian cartoonist Doaa El Adl offends the Salafists