behind the scenes

See also: behind-the-scenes

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bɪˈhaɪnd ðə siːnz/, /bəˈhaɪnd ðə siːnz/
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Prepositional phrase

behind the scenes

  1. (idiomatic, theater, film) behind the scenery and stage area; backstage; among the actors; during the production or rehearsal
    Many videos come with features that show what went on behind the scenes to make the movie and special effects.
    • 1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 134:
      The men who stood behind the scenes and worked the religious puppet-show by hidden wires to the awe and astonishment of the gaping vulgar.
  2. (idiomatic, figurative) In secret; out of public view.
    The government has been negotiating behind the scenes with the separatists for months.
    • 2013, Tracy Daugherty, The Boy Orator: A Novel, →ISBN:
      He was more comfortable behind the scenes, he admitted, writing articles, drafting speeches for others. “I don't really have what it takes to be a hand-shaker or a baby-kisser,” he said.
    • 2025 May 21, Ezra Klein, quoting Jake Tapper, “How Groupthink Protected Biden and Re-elected Trump”, in The New York Times‎[1], →ISSN:
      They told me it was because they knew the Hur report was about to drop. And they knew it would have all this stuff about classified information and about him seeming superold and addled behind the scenes.

Translations

Adjective

behind the scenes (not comparable)

  1. Being or working out in secret or out of public view.
  2. Divulging or reporting hidden workings.
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