be an open secret

Meaning

1. Oxford100% of films

   if sth is an open secret, many people know about it, although it is supposed to be a secret

   It's practically, it's an open secret nowadays with the way you're carrying on.

   That's an open secret.

In the movies · 2

• That's an open secret.Maria Bamford: Old Baby2017
• It's practically, it's an open secret nowadays with the way you're carrying on.Bad Education2019
• My wife's affair is just this big, open secret.The Life of David Gale2003
• They were taking the B to be opened secretly?Icarus2017
• We ran back to the house and Ms. Lenoir opened this secret passageway.Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island1998

Learn it in full scenes

• Bad Education2019
  • Frank Reassures an Angry Parent
  • Rachel Interviews School Officials
  • Bob Spicer Gives the School a Gift

From the same entry

• have an open mind
• keep your ears open
• an open book
• an open invitation
• with open arms
• burst open
• the door to
• keep an eye open
• with your eyes open
• on the open market
• keep your options open
• open doors for

More idioms

• be at each other's throats
• be falling apart at the seams
• be frightened out of your wits
• be no laughing matter
• be on your last legs
• be the spitting image of
• blow up in face
• come with the territory
• for the foreseeable future
• from head to foot
• give a once over
• go round in circles