Keep them in the dark 🔒🔦
Meaning
To withhold information from someone, preventing them from knowing what is happening.
Origin
Imagine a world before electricity, where darkness was an ever-present reality. Secrets and clandestine meetings thrived under its cover. To be 'in the dark' literally meant you couldn't see what was going on around you. This phrase likely emerged from that literal lack of sight, extending metaphorically to a lack of knowledge or awareness. It suggests a deliberate act of shrouding someone with ignorance, just as actual darkness conceals the truth and allows hidden things to occur unseen.
Keep them in the dark represented with emoji🔒🔦
This playful juxtaposition of a lock and a flashlight not only captures the fleeting nature of secrets but also serves as a meditation on the desire for illumination. It challenges the viewer to consider the tension between concealment and revelation, ultimately inviting a dialogue on what it means to be kept in the dark.
Examples
- The company decided to keep the employees in the dark about the upcoming layoffs.
- She suspected her parents were keeping her in the dark about the family's financial problems.
- The magician loved to keep his audience in the dark about how he performed his amazing tricks.
- We're going to keep the squirrels in the dark about where we hid the extra-special nuts this year.
Frequently asked questions
Phrases with similar meanings include 'keep in ignorance,' 'withhold information,' or to 'blindside' someone. These all imply preventing someone from knowing crucial details.
The opposite would be to 'enlighten someone,' 'inform them,' or 'bring them up to speed.' This means to provide all the necessary information so they are fully aware.
'Keep them in the dark' is best classified as an idiom, not a proverb. Idioms are phrases whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of the words, whereas proverbs are typically short, well-known sayings that offer advice or state a general truth.
While typically negative, the phrase can be used in a context of surprise or protection, such as planning a surprise party. In these cases, 'keeping them in the dark' is done for their eventual delight and is perceived positively.