hide
B1Neutral (used across all registers from informal to formal, though related forms like 'conceal' are more formal).
Definition
Meaning
to put or keep out of sight; to conceal oneself or something.
To keep secret or obscure; to prevent from being known or noticed. Can also refer to the skin of an animal (noun).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'hide' focuses on the physical act of concealment or the intentional act of keeping information secret. It implies a deliberate action. The noun 'hide' (skin) is primarily used in specific contexts like leatherworking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both use 'hide' for concealment and the noun for animal skin. Minor spelling differences may appear in compounds (e.g., hide-and-seek).
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and frequent in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] hide [NP][NP] hide [NP] from [NP][NP] hide (oneself)[NP] hide [NP] awayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hide your light under a bushel”
- “have/tan someone's hide”
- “hide nor hair”
- “hide your head in the sand”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used regarding concealing information, e.g., 'The company tried to hide its financial losses.'
Academic
Used in discussions of data, bias, or history, e.g., 'The study did not hide the limitations of its methodology.'
Everyday
Most common for objects, emotions, or games, e.g., 'Where did you hide the keys?' or 'Don't hide your disappointment.'
Technical
In computing/UI: 'Hide the toolbar.' In leatherwork/taxidermy: 'A buffalo hide.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to hide the letter in the old desk.
- The children love to hide in the garden shed.
- She couldn't hide her irritation at the delay.
American English
- I need to hide these cookies from the kids.
- The suspect tried to hide from the police.
- He didn't hide his ambition to become CEO.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form of 'hide'; 'hiddenly' is obsolete/rare).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form of 'hide').
adjective
British English
- The hidden camera captured everything. (Note: 'hidden' is the adjective form)
- There is a hide compartment in the wall. (Less common)
American English
- They accessed the hidden files. (Note: 'hidden' is the adjective form)
- The hideaway cabin was very remote. (Related compound)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat likes to hide under the bed.
- We play hide-and-seek in the park.
- I will hide your birthday present.
- You can't hide your feelings forever.
- He hid the key under the doormat.
- Where did you hide my phone?
- The government was accused of hiding crucial evidence from the public.
- Some animals hide their young to protect them from predators.
- She had learned to hide her nervousness during presentations.
- The true cost of the project was artfully hidden within the budget report.
- He has spent years hiding from his past, living under an assumed name.
- The data contains hidden patterns that only advanced analysis can reveal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HIDing place; it's a secret spot you 'hide' in. The word itself is hidden inside 'behind'.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT, IGNORANCE IS DARKNESS (to hide the truth is to keep it in the dark). EMOTIONS ARE FLUIDS (to hide one's feelings is to keep them bottled up).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с существительным 'skin' (шкура) — у 'hide' это значение более узкое, связано с кожей как материалом.
- В значении 'скрывать' может переводиться как 'прятать', 'скрывать', 'утаивать'. Важен контекст для выбора.
- 'Hide' как глагол неправильный: hide-hid-hidden, что может вызывать ошибки.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past participle: 'I have hide' instead of 'I have hidden'.
- Using 'hide' incorrectly with prepositions, e.g., 'hide of' instead of 'hide from'.
- Confusing the noun 'hide' (skin) with 'skin' in general contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'hide' in the sense of 'animal skin'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is irregular: hide-hid-hidden.
'Hide' is more general and common in everyday speech. 'Conceal' is slightly more formal and often implies a deliberate attempt to prevent discovery, sometimes with trickery.
Yes, but primarily in specific contexts meaning the skin of an animal, especially when treated (e.g., 'boots made of leather hide'). It is not a general synonym for 'skin' on a living person or animal.
It means 'no sign or trace of someone or something at all', e.g., 'I've seen neither hide nor hair of him all week.'