secret of Polichinelle

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word secret of Polichinelle. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word secret of Polichinelle, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say secret of Polichinelle in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word secret of Polichinelle you have here. The definition of the word secret of Polichinelle will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofsecret of Polichinelle, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From French secret de Polichinelle, from a play by Pierre Wolff.

Noun

secret of Polichinelle (plural secrets of Polichinelle)

  1. A supposed secret known to everyone.
    Synonym: open secret
    • 1915, Frederick Scott Oliver, Ordeal by Battle:
      In October and November 1910 there was a great secret of Polichinelle. Conceivably we may learn from some future historian even more about it than we knew at the time.
    • 1926, W. J. Thorold, Arthur Hornblow, Perriton Maxwell, Stewart Beach, editors, Theatre magazine, volumes 43-44:
      It is said that Polst fell because he revealed in an unlucky interview the Secret of Polichinelle, the secret which all the world knew, the secret that there was a claque at the Metropolitan Opera House.
    • 1992, Hyman Gross, Ross Harrison, Jurisprudence: Cambridge Essays:
      British public life specializes in an elegant variation of the secret of Polichinelle. After a secret is disclosed it may still be treated as if it were a secret.

Translations

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia