An ulterior motive
Meaning
A secret, often self-serving reason for doing something, hidden from others.
Origin
The phrase "an ulterior motive" draws its depth from a pair of ancient Latin roots, masterfully combined to capture the essence of hidden intent. "Ulterior" springs from the Latin "ulterior," meaning "further, beyond, or on the other side," hinting at something concealed just out of sight. Paired with "motive," which descends from the Latin "movere," meaning "to move" or "to set in motion," the phrase forms a potent description of a driving force operating beneath the surface. Imagine a chess player making an unexpected move that looks innocent, but carries a deeper, strategic purpose. This conceptual blend solidified in English around the 17th century, providing a sharp linguistic tool to pinpoint those sly, personal reasons that often lurk behind a person's outwardly benign actions.
Examples
- Her offer to help seemed incredibly generous, but I couldn't shake the feeling she had an ulterior motive.
- The politician's sudden support for the controversial bill raised public suspicion about an ulterior motive behind his change of heart.