Definition

Noun (informal, chiefly North American) 1. A secret partnership or collaboration, often for a dishonest or illegal purpose: The word "cahoot" refers to a private, conspiratorial alliance between people. It is almost always used in the plural form "cahoots" and in the phrase "in cahoots with."

Usage

The word "cahoot" is almost never used in its singular form. It is standard to use the plural "cahoots" within the idiomatic phrase "in cahoots (with someone)." This phrase describes a secretive and often shady partnership. * The two companies were in cahoots to fix prices. * She suspected her neighbors were in cahoots with the thieves.

Examples

• The investigation revealed that the corrupt official was in cahoots with the smuggling ring.
• I think our kids are in cahoots; they both told the same unlikely story about the broken vase.
• The two rival politicians were secretly in cahoots to undermine the new legislation.

Advanced Usage

• "To go cahoots" (archaic/informal): To share something equally, to go halves. This older usage implies a partnership, but not necessarily a secretive one.
  • They decided to go cahoots on the cost of the rental car.

Variants and Related Words

• Cahoots (n, plural): The standard form of the word.
• Collusion (n): A more formal synonym for a secret agreement, especially to deceive or cheat.

Synonyms

• Collusion
• Conspiracy
• Alliance
• Partnership (secret)
• Connivance

Idioms and Phrases

• In cahoots (with someone): The primary and almost exclusive way the word is used. It means involved in a secret partnership or conspiracy.
  • The journalist discovered the mayor was in cahoots with the construction company.

Noun

1. collusion
   • in cahoots with