Meaning & use

behind the scenes

phrase·Everyday

Happening privately or out of public view, especially the preparation behind a visible event or production.

See it in a sentence

A behind-the-scenes documentary showed how much work went into a single episode.

Behind the scenes, negotiators had been working on the deal for months before it was announced.

A note on using this word

Behind the scenes can be an adjective before a noun ('a behind-the-scenes look') or an adverbial phrase describing where something happens.

Words with a similar meaning

backstageoff-camera

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

publiconstage

Make it your own

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