secret craving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secret craving" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a desire or longing that someone keeps hidden or does not openly express. For example: She had a secret craving for adventure that she never shared with anyone. Alternative expressions include "hidden desire" and "covert longing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They are our secret CRAVING for some sense of karmic merit - some brownie points - some kind of a gold star.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On "The Closer" Kyra Sedgwick is a self-centered, overbearing deputy police chief with a secret craving for sweets.

The New York Times - Arts

In the same way, mightn't it be said of her intelligence, her kindness, even her goodness of heart, that they encourage a search for flaws, that they incite in their admirer a secret craving for ignorance, confusion, and spiritual failure?

The New Yorker

Female crime fighters who work with the living, like Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) on "Law & Order: SVU," or Brenda, the homicide detective Kyra Sedgwick plays on "The Closer," may have a hard edge, but it is tempered by good looks, compassion and even cute eccentricities — Ms. Sedgwick plays a gooey-voiced Southerner with a secret craving for candy.

The New York Times - Arts

Today, our society's secret craving for an off switch is being thrown back in our faces, through what I'll dub "disconnect porn".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Does that give operatives an added motive to indulge reporters with the inside secrets they crave?

The New York Times

The Clintons with their apparent need to be surrounded by the high stakes intrigue of secrets and gamblers craving high stakes action are quite possibly both feeling the same adrenaline rush.

Huffington Post

If anything, my secret, inadmissible craving was to be a boy like him or at least some sort of gender-free comrade at arms.

The Guardian - Books

It is hard to read tales of everyday Western youth dropping everything to join ISIS and not conclude that there is something to the idea that postmodern anomie and libertinism leave a secret part of us craving an all-embracing, confident, life-shaping creed.

The New York Times

But my filthy secret would march with me, craving the hot teat of a teapot, the steaming mug of tasteless nectar that even now, with a supersized SportsDirect only recently in me, I yearn for.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

First, we tell our personal secrets because we crave reassurance, and in the pursuit of reassurance we share shameful secrets and trust our friends.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "secret craving", ensure the context clearly establishes both the intensity of the desire and the reason for its concealment. Consider if a synonym like "hidden desire" or "covert longing" might be more appropriate for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "secret craving" in overly dramatic or cliché situations. This phrase can sound contrived if the context doesn't genuinely warrant a sense of hidden, intense desire. Opt for more straightforward language if the craving isn't truly a secret or particularly intense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secret craving" functions as a noun phrase, where 'secret' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'craving'. Ludwig AI indicates its grammatical correctness, and examples demonstrate its use to describe a hidden or unacknowledged desire.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "secret craving" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a hidden or unacknowledged desire. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, with examples showcasing its appearance in news and academic contexts. While relatively infrequent, the phrase carries a neutral tone. Related phrases include "hidden desire" and "covert longing", offering subtle variations in emphasis. When employing "secret craving", ensure the context appropriately conveys the intensity and concealed nature of the desire. Overuse in melodramatic scenarios should be avoided, as simpler expressions might be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hidden desire

Emphasizes the concealed nature of the desire more directly.

covert longing

Highlights the concealed and wistful nature of the craving.

unspoken yearning

Focuses on the unexpressed nature of the deep desire.

private passion

Highlights the intense and personal nature of the craving.

suppressed desire

Emphasizes the act of holding back the craving.

latent appetite

Focuses on the potential and undeveloped nature of the craving.

inner hunger

Highlights the internal and compelling nature of the craving.

furtive wish

Emphasizes the stealthy and hidden aspect of the desire.

veiled ambition

Focuses on a hidden goal or aspiration that is strongly desired.

unacknowledged need

Highlights the fact that the craving is not openly admitted or recognized.

FAQs

What does "secret craving" mean?

The phrase "secret craving" refers to a strong desire or longing that someone keeps hidden from others, often due to embarrassment, fear of judgment, or other personal reasons.

How can I use "secret craving" in a sentence?

You can use "secret craving" to describe a hidden desire. For example: "She had a "secret craving" for adventure, but she was too afraid to leave her comfortable life."

What are some alternatives to "secret craving"?

Alternatives to "secret craving" include "hidden desire", "covert longing", or "unspoken yearning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "secret craving" formal or informal?

"Secret craving" is generally considered a neutral phrase, suitable for both informal and formal contexts, although it might be more common in descriptive writing than in highly technical or business communication.