Under wraps
Meaning
Kept secret or confidential, not yet revealed to the public.
Origin
Imagine a precious treasure or a sensitive document being carefully bundled and secured, hidden beneath layers of protective cloth or paper. This literal act of concealment, common for centuries to protect valuables or maintain discretion, gave birth to the idiom 'under wraps.' Emerging into widespread use in the early 20th century, the phrase elegantly translated the physical act of covering an object into the metaphorical act of safeguarding a secret, transforming a simple packaging technique into a potent symbol of confidentiality and unrevealed information.
Examples
- The new product launch is being kept completely under wraps until the official announcement next month.
- We need to keep the details of the surprise party under wraps so that Liam doesn't find out.