Between you and me

Meaning

The idiom "between you and me" is used to refer to a secret or confidential matter that should only be known between two people. It implies that there is an agreement between the two parties involved that they will not share this information with anyone else. The phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of keeping something private, especially in situations where trust and discretion are crucial.

Usage

• "I want you to keep our conversation about your job search between you and me. I don't want to jeopardize my current position."
• "When we discussed your health issues last night, we agreed that it was best to keep them between you and me."
• "If you need any help with the project, feel free to ask me. But remember, our work together should remain between us."
• "I'm sorry for what happened at the party. Let's put it behind us and focus on building a better friendship moving forward. Between us, of course."
• "The CEO has told me that the company is going through some financial difficulties. I don't want to worry you or anyone else, so let's keep this between us until we have more information."

Roots and History

There are several theories about the origin of this idiom, but none have been definitively proven. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of writing letters with two lines in between them, which meant that only the sender and recipient could read the contents. Another theory is that it comes from the idea that a secret can be shared between two people without any other witnesses present. Over time, the idiom's usage has remained relatively consistent, but its popularity has fluctuated depending on cultural and social factors. In some cultures, such as Japan, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining privacy and secrecy, which may have contributed to the popularity of this idiom. However, in other cultures, such as the United States, openness and transparency are valued more highly, which may explain why the idiom is not used as frequently in certain contexts.

Synonyms in English

• "Between you and me" can also be replaced with "just between us," "in confidence," or "under wraps."
• Other synonyms include "on a need-to-know basis," "off the record," or "understand to keep quiet."

Synonyms in other languages

• In Spanish, similar idioms include "en tu cuenta" (meaning "on your conscience") and "entre tus manos" (meaning "in your hands").
• In French, the idiom "à deux" is used to refer to a secret or confidential matter that should only be known between two people.
• In German, the phrase "unter Vertrag" (meaning "under contract") is often used to refer to a mutual agreement not to disclose information.
• In Italian, similar idioms include "in privato" (meaning "in private") and "sotto la ruggine" (meaning "under the rug").
• In Portuguese, the phrase "em troca" (meaning "in exchange") is used to refer to a secret agreement between two people.

Similar Idioms

• born with a silver spoon in mouth

• cover one’s tracks

• back to basics