conspiracy of silence

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Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • An agreement to keep silent about a matter, especially one that is controversial, embarrassing, or incriminating: A "conspiracy of silence" refers to a situation where a group of people collectively and often secretly decide not to discuss or reveal certain information.
Usage
  • This phrase is used to describe an unspoken or explicit pact among individuals or an organization to suppress information, avoid public discussion, or ignore a problematic issue.
  • It often implies a negative or unethical motive, such as protecting wrongdoers, avoiding scandal, or maintaining a false appearance.
  • It is typically used in formal or journalistic contexts to criticize the withholding of important truths.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • There was a conspiracy of silence about police brutality in the department.
    • The company's management maintained a conspiracy of silence regarding the safety violations.
    • Breaking the conspiracy of silence, the whistleblower provided evidence to the press.
Advanced Usage
  • "to break/shatter the conspiracy of silence": to end the agreement by speaking out.
    • The journalist's report aimed to break the conspiracy of silence surrounding the corruption scandal.
  • "to maintain/uphold a conspiracy of silence": to continue keeping the secret.
    • For years, the community maintained a conspiracy of silence about the historical injustice.
Variants and Related Words
  • Conspiracy (n): a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
    • They were accused of a conspiracy to defraud investors.
  • Code of silence / Omertà (n): similar concepts, often used in specific contexts like police departments or criminal organizations, denoting a rule prohibiting cooperation with authorities.
    • The gang operated under a strict code of silence.
Synonyms
  • Cover-up: an attempt to prevent the public from discovering the truth about a serious mistake or crime.
  • Secrecy pact: an agreement to keep something secret.
  • Collusion: secret or illegal cooperation, especially to cheat or deceive others.
Related Phrases
  • To turn a blind eye: to pretend not to notice something bad or illegal.
    • Officials turned a blind eye to the violations, contributing to the conspiracy of silence.
  • To sweep something under the rug: to hide a problem or secret in an attempt to forget it.
    • The administration tried to sweep the allegations under the rug, fostering a conspiracy of silence.
Noun
  1. a conspiracy not to talk about some situation or event
    • there was a conspiracy of silence about police brutality