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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

under the rose en · ADP

Pronunciation

Etymology

Calque of Latin sub rosā.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) In secret; secretly, privately.
    • "If ever you smoke, my dear aunt (and I am told that many women take a quiet weed under the rose), be very careful how you choose your cigars." 1862, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley's Secret:
    • "Strictly between ourselves," he said, in a half-whisper. "You know what things are in a little place like this. It doesn't do to talk about anybody. But I suppose most of your investigations about this gentleman who's missing are under the rose, eh?" 1923, Joseph Smith Fletcher, The Lost Mr. Linthwaite, Grosset & Dunlap, page 196:
    • ‘If you become the purchaser of the East Lynne estate, Mr Carlyle, it must be under the rose.’ 1860, Ellen Wood, East Lynne, Penguin 2005, page 10:
    • We are organising (but this is quite under the rose as yet) a company for the production of furniture and decoration of all kinds, for the sale of which we are going to open an actual shop! 1861, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, quoted by Fiona MacCarthy (2011) in The Last Pre-Raphaelite, Faber, page 130