In league with 🤝🤫

Meaning

Secretly working together, especially for a dishonest or illegal purpose.

Origin

Imagine two powerful medieval lords secretly plotting against the king. They've formed a 'league'—a formal alliance or partnership—to achieve their nefarious goals. This clandestine agreement, this joining of forces, is their 'league'. The phrase evolved to describe any secret, often illicit, partnership between individuals or groups, implying a shared secret and a common, often shadowy, objective.

🎭🤥 deception 🔒 secrets 👑⚖️ power 💰💲 money commerce ☠️ risk

In league with represented with emoji🤝🤫

This playful pairing of handshake and shushing face not just the literal representation of 'in league with,' but also functions as a delightful visual riddle. It underscores the ephemeral nature of secrets, inviting us to consider the silent pacts that bind us, all while reminding us of the whimsical power of symbols to convey complex ideas with a wink and a nod.

Examples

  • The detective suspected the mayor was in league with the crime boss.
  • Many believed the corrupt official was in league with the developers to push through the controversial project.
  • The mischievous brownie was surely in league with the misplaced socks, hiding them in the dryer dimension.
  • It seemed the talking cat was in league with the garden gnomes, plotting to steal all the shiny garden ornaments.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'in league with' always negative?

While 'in league with' often implies a dishonest or illicit purpose, it can sometimes be used more neutrally to describe any secret alliance or partnership, especially if the context is ambiguous.

What's the difference between 'in league with' and just 'allied with'?

'In league with' specifically suggests a secret or covert agreement, carrying an implication of conspiracy or wrongdoing, whereas 'allied with' generally refers to a more open and formal partnership for mutual benefit.

Can a single person be 'in league with' someone?

Yes, 'in league with' can describe a secret partnership between as few as two individuals who are working together towards a common, often hidden, goal.

Similar to "in league with"

In cahoots with
Both suggest sneaky teamwork, but 'in cahoots with' feels a bit more folksy and perhaps carries a hint of amateurish conspiracy, whereas 'in league with' sounds more serious and strategic
In collusion with
Both point to secret, often illicit partnership, but 'in collusion with' emphasizes the deceptive nature specifically aimed at defrauding or tricking others, giving it a more overtly criminal or fraudulent flavour
Hand in glove with
Both imply close cooperation, but 'hand in glove with' often suggests a tighter, more intimate partnership that might even be legitimate, whereas 'in league with' inherently carries a whiff of illicit dealings

Opposite of "in league with"

At cross purposes
This phrase argues for fundamental misalignment, suggesting that efforts are actively working against each other, which is the direct counterpoint to the unified, albeit dishonest, action implied by 'in league with'
Standing alone
This champions individual action and integrity, directly opposing the concept of secretive, shared illicit enterprise that defines 'in league with', presenting a virtue of independence instead of clandestine alliance
Battling it out
This emphasizes open conflict and competition, celebrating a dynamic of rivalry rather than hidden agreement, a stark contrast to the secretive unity of being 'in league with'

Related to "in league with"

Conspiring
This is the verb form of plotting, often with others for an illicit purpose, making it the action that typically underlies being 'in league with'
A dark pact
This evokes a formal, secretive agreement for nefarious ends, sharing the clandestine and morally dubious quality of 'in league with' but with a heightened sense of dramatic finality
Cutting a deal
While 'cutting a deal' can be neutral, in contexts related to 'in league with,' it implies a behind-the-scenes arrangement, often mutually beneficial but skirting the edges of legitimacy or fair play
On the take
This phrase describes the state of one who is secretly accepting bribes, a common outcome or motive for those who are 'in league with' others for dishonest gain