down-low
noun
Phrases
the down-low
: a state or condition of secrecy
—usually used in the phrase on the down-low
Alcindor was able to keep his drug use on the down-low, but Allen was not so lucky.—
Seth Davis
Seth DavisThe spot was called Houston's. Dimly lit, it was a restaurant on the down-low.—Sister Souljah
—abbreviation DL
Sister SouljahExamples of down-low in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And if that gives him a reason to pop by to see his son on the down-low, all the better.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 16 May 2025
Minahan reduces the period story to cosmetics rather than capturing the down-low essence of the pre-Stonewall era.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
Club 33 stays on the down-low with discreet rules and a dress code.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Swift’s relationship with Joe Alwyn was kept on the down-low, but her relationship with Kelce has been lived in the spotlight for the most part.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2025
Liv arrived as the first bombshell of the season in episode one, stealing Rob only for him and Leah to keep their relationship going on the down-low.
—Arimeta Diop, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2024
Could the episode have worked slightly better if the production team had trusted us to make that connection — a rapper trying to keep his sexuality on the down-low before finding his personal truth — ourselves?
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2024
Keep your crabby comments and compulsive shopping on the down-low — at least for those 10 days.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 20 Oct. 2023
The space opened on the relatively down-low, but should be operational most nights at 5 p.m., serving as a low-key way to escape the parks and add a welcome elevated bar space to the resort.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
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Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 16 May 2025
Minahan reduces the period story to cosmetics rather than capturing the down-low essence of the pre-Stonewall era.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
Club 33 stays on the down-low with discreet rules and a dress code.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Swift’s relationship with Joe Alwyn was kept on the down-low, but her relationship with Kelce has been lived in the spotlight for the most part.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2025
Liv arrived as the first bombshell of the season in episode one, stealing Rob only for him and Leah to keep their relationship going on the down-low.
—Arimeta Diop, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2024
Could the episode have worked slightly better if the production team had trusted us to make that connection — a rapper trying to keep his sexuality on the down-low before finding his personal truth — ourselves?
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 July 2024
Keep your crabby comments and compulsive shopping on the down-low — at least for those 10 days.
—Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 20 Oct. 2023
The space opened on the relatively down-low, but should be operational most nights at 5 p.m., serving as a low-key way to escape the parks and add a welcome elevated bar space to the resort.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Down-low.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down-low. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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