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
The attraction is palpable, even if the need to keep it on the down-low is inherently understood.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Silky shooter Sonia Citron and down-low force Kiki Iriafen each earned All-Rookie honors last year.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
The owner of the SPARC cannabis company began growing medical marijuana on the down-low in 1998.
—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
The Christophers introduces itself as another indie spin on a familiar conceit, then heads in a much more empathetic direction than Soderbergh’s usual portrayal of burglars on the down-low.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Consider keeping plans on the down-low for a few more days.
—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
Some do it on the down-low while others use nonnative and albino snakes, like Molieri does.
—
Kurtis Alexander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
14 Feb. 2026
Wiener, in his on-the-down-low shadow campaign, has raised a bit over $1 million, not nearly enough.
—
Anita Chabria,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Really a drug dealer on the down-low.
—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Silky shooter Sonia Citron and down-low force Kiki Iriafen each earned All-Rookie honors last year.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
The owner of the SPARC cannabis company began growing medical marijuana on the down-low in 1998.
—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
The Christophers introduces itself as another indie spin on a familiar conceit, then heads in a much more empathetic direction than Soderbergh’s usual portrayal of burglars on the down-low.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Consider keeping plans on the down-low for a few more days.
—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
Some do it on the down-low while others use nonnative and albino snakes, like Molieri does.
—
Kurtis Alexander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
14 Feb. 2026
Wiener, in his on-the-down-low shadow campaign, has raised a bit over $1 million, not nearly enough.
—
Anita Chabria,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Really a drug dealer on the down-low.
—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-low.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down-low. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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