ulterior motive, an
ulterior motive, an
A hidden purpose, a secret reason for saying or doing something. The adjective ulterior originally meant “beyond” or “more distant,” a usage taken from the Latin and dating from the mid-1600s. Less than a century later it began to be used more specifically to mean “beyond what is said or evident.” It then was combined with several nouns—ulterior intentions, ulterior designs, ulterior purpose. Its frequent combination with motive is more recent.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- bulletproof
- hidden agenda
- a hidden agenda
- mean (something) by (something)
- mean by
- take (one) at (one's) word
- take at word
- take somebody at their word
- take someone at his or her word
- take someone at their word