on the quiet

USAGE SUMMARY

"on the quiet" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to do something in secret or without anyone else knowing. Example: "I heard that he got a promotion on the quiet, without telling anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

ALWAYS keep an eye on the quiet ones.

The Economist

His instincts were right on the quiet period, too.

The Economist

Yet on the quiet streets, there are pockets of togetherness.

The New York Times

She concentrates on the quiet rituals, the moments of ambivalence.

The New Yorker

Rudd says no formal agreements, no deals on the quiet.

The Guardian

Another night has fallen on the quiet streets of Bexley.

The New York Times

Very much so … and it's not necessarily on the quiet.

The Guardian

Much of their campaigning remained on the quiet.

The Guardian

When the friends started arguing, he wished he were back on the quiet couch.

The New York Times

"It was all false though and he had been gambling on the quiet".

Independent

They lodged in Catholic households like the Vauxes' and conducted mass on the quiet.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the end of a clause to provide adverbial weight to the method of the action.

Common error

Do not confuse the idiomatic "on the quiet" (meaning secretly) with literal descriptions such as 'on the quiet street' or 'on the quiet side'. The idiom functions as an adverbial phrase describing how something was done, rather than where something is located.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the quiet" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it consistently modifies verbs (such as "gambling", "practising" or "holding talks") to indicate the manner of the action—specifically that it was performed without public knowledge or fanfare.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academic

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on the quiet" is a robust idiomatic expression used to describe actions taken secretly or without public disclosure. According to Ludwig AI, it is highly prevalent in British journalism and general media, appearing in esteemed publications like The Economist and The Guardian. While it literally means 'without noise', its usage is almost exclusively figurative in the sense of 'off the record' or 'behind the scenes'. Writers should distinguish it from literal descriptions of quietness to ensure clarity. Overall, it remains a valuable tool for adding a touch of narrative intrigue or describing unofficial proceedings with a neutral to slightly informal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in secret

The most direct and literal alternative available

discreetly

A formal adverbial alternative that focuses on the quality of being careful in speech or action

on the sly

Implies a more mischievous or slightly deceitful undertone than the original phrase

surreptitiously

A highly formal term emphasizing the secret nature of the action, often due to disapproval

covertly

Often used in political or military contexts to describe non-public operations

under the radar

Uses a common metaphor to describe avoiding detection or public attention

on the down-low

A more informal or slang-leaning version of the expression

behind closed doors

Suggests a specific setting where decisions or actions are kept from the public

unobtrusively

Focuses on the lack of attention drawn rather than the secrecy itself

sub rosa

A Latin-derived legal or formal term for 'under the rose' or in confidence

FAQs

How to use "on the quiet" in a sentence?

You can use "on the quiet" to describe doing something without anyone knowing, for example: "She had been looking for a new job <a href="/s/on+the+quiet" target="_blank" rel="alternative">on the quiet while still employed".

What can I say instead of "on the quiet"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like <a href="/s/discreetly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">discreetly, <a href="/s/on+the+sly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">on the sly or <a href="/s/in+secret" target="_blank" rel="alternative">in secret.

What is the difference between "on the quiet" and "quietly"?

While <a href="/s/quietly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">quietly refers to the lack of noise, "on the quiet" specifically refers to the lack of publicity or disclosure.

Is "on the quiet" formal?

It is considered neutral to slightly informal. In highly formal academic writing, you might prefer <a href="/s/surreptitiously" target="_blank" rel="alternative">surreptitiously or <a href="/s/covertly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">covertly.