hide-and-seek: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “hide-and-seek” mean?
A children's game in which players hide and one designated player (the 'seeker') tries to find them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A children's game in which players hide and one designated player (the 'seeker') tries to find them.
A situation characterized by avoidance, concealment, and intermittent discovery, often implying evasion, a lack of transparency, or a tactical game of cat and mouse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The alternative name 'hide-and-go-seek' is more common in American English.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “hide-and-seek” in a Sentence
play [hide-and-seek] with [someone]a [long/exhausting] game of hide-and-seekVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hide-and-seek” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb)
American English
- (Not standard as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- A hide-and-seek champion.
- The hide-and-seek rules were simple.
American English
- A hide-and-go-seek expert.
- The hide-and-seek strategy was clever.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for tax avoidance, regulatory evasion, or unproductive managerial tactics. 'The company has been playing hide-and-seek with its auditors.'
Academic
Rarely used literally. Can appear in social science texts describing political or strategic behavior.
Everyday
Overwhelmingly used to refer to the children's game.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hide-and-seek”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hide-and-seek”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hide-and-seek”
- Using it as a verb (*'Let's hide-and-seek!' --> 'Let's play hide-and-seek.').
- Misspelling as 'hide and seek' (acceptable but hyphenated form is standard for the noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard noun form for the game is hyphenated: hide-and-seek. 'Hide and seek' (without hyphens) is a common variant but the hyphenated form is preferred in dictionaries.
No, it is only a noun. You must use the verb 'play' with it: 'Let's play hide-and-seek,' not '*Let's hide-and-seek.'
They refer to the same game. 'Hide-and-go-seek' is a common informal variant, particularly in American English. There is no difference in gameplay.
It is informal when referring to the children's game. Its metaphorical use in business or politics remains colloquial and is not appropriate for highly formal academic or legal writing.
A children's game in which players hide and one designated player (the 'seeker') tries to find them.
Hide-and-seek: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪd‿n̩ ˈsiːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪd‿n̩ ˈsik/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play hide-and-seek with the facts”
- “a geopolitical game of hide-and-seek”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HI(t the) DE(ck) and SEEK (a cover): In the game, you HIT a hiding spot, DECK yourself out of sight, and the others SEEK you.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/INTERACTIONS ARE GAMES; EVASION/AVOIDANCE IS PHYSICAL HIDING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hide-and-seek' used metaphorically?