in confidence

Idioms  

1. Also, in strict confidence. Privately, on condition that what is said will not be revealed. For example, The doctor told her in confidence that her mother was terminally ill, or He told us in strict confidence that Gail was pregnant. This idiom was first recorded in 1632. Also see take into one's confidence.

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Example Sentences

“We did see a big decrease in confidence among retirees this year — a decline that we haven’t seen since post-COVID,” said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at EBRI.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Baby boomers and members of Generation X also experienced the sharpest declines in confidence using AI technology, according to a ManpowerGroup survey of more than 13,900 workers in 19 countries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The big cliffhanger to the episode is Monika being told by Auguste that Jim told him she sold the coin when she told Jim in confidence.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

The 2016 Olympian grew in confidence with each round as it became clearer that his game plan of staying on the outside and carefully choosing when to engage was working.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Dad says, making it crystal clear that I can’t tell either of them anything in confidence.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• clandestinely
• covertly
• furtively
• personally
• privately
• quietly
• stealthily
• surreptitiously