in confidence:秘密地;私下地;作为机密(告诉某人但希望对方不要外传)。常用于 tell/let/mention something in confidence。也可引申为“坦诚地、推心置腹地(私下谈话)”。
/ɪn ˈkɑːnfɪdəns/
She told me in confidence that she was leaving the company.
她私下告诉我(作为机密)她要离开公司。
The diplomat spoke in confidence about the negotiations, trusting that the details would not be shared outside the room.
这位外交官私下谈及谈判内容,相信细节不会被带出房间。
confidence 来自拉丁语 confidentia,意为“信任、确信”,与 confidere(“完全信任”)相关。短语 in confidence 字面是“在信任之中”,强调信息是在“基于信任的保密前提下”传递的,因此引申为“秘密地/作为机密”。