cahoots
C1Informal, colloquial
Definition
Meaning
A secret partnership or collaboration, especially for dishonest or illegal purposes.
Any close, often conspiratorial, cooperation between parties, sometimes used humorously for minor mischief.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in the plural form 'cahoots' and in the fixed phrase 'in cahoots (with)'. It carries a strong connotation of secrecy and often illegitimacy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used in both varieties, but is considered slightly more American in flavour. British usage may be more likely in humorous or ironic contexts.
Connotations
Equally negative/conspiratorial in both, but American usage can be more matter-of-fact.
Frequency
More frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] be in cahoots with [Person/Group][Person/Group] are in cahootsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in cahoots (with someone)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used critically to imply unethical collaboration between companies or executives, e.g., price-fixing.
Academic
Rare, except in informal discussion or critical analysis of political/economic collusion.
Everyday
Common in news commentary, political discussion, or describing friends planning a surprise or prank.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I think my brother is in cahoots with my mum to plan a surprise party.
- The two rival companies were accused of being in cahoots to control the market prices.
- The journalist alleged that the minister was in cahoots with the construction firm to bypass planning regulations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two COWBOOTS (sounds like 'cahoots') secretly planning a scheme around a campfire. The boots are 'in' the plan together.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECRET SOCIETY / CONSPIRACY AS A SHARED SPACE ('in cahoots').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'каюты' (ship's cabins). The concept is closer to 'сговор', 'тайный сговор', or 'в доле (с кем-то)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in singular form ('a cahoot').
- Using it without 'in' (e.g., 'They are cahoots').
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'cahoots' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. Its core meaning is negative (secretive, dishonest). It can be used humorously for harmless secrets among friends, but the connotation of conspiracy remains.
No, in modern standard English it is only used in the plural form 'cahoots' within the phrase 'in cahoots (with)'.
It is believed to come from the French word 'cahute', meaning a cabin or hut, suggesting a small, private place where people might conspire. It entered American English in the early 19th century.
It is firmly informal or colloquial. It is common in spoken English, journalism, and informal writing, but should be avoided in formal academic or legal documents.