en catmini

En catimini

Question:

How do I translate en catimini into English?

Answer:

If you're doing something en catimini, you don't want people to know about it. In other words, you're acting behind closed doors, in secret, on the sly, quietly, secretly, surreptitiously or under the table.
For example,

• la réunion s'est déroulée en catimini
  the meeting took place behind closed doors
• la fête de Gilbert a été planifiée en catimini
  Gilbert's party was planned in secret (secretly)
• Lindsay mange en catimini les bonbons de sa collègue
  Lindsay is eating her colleague's candy on the sly
• le voleur a pénétré en catimini dans la maison, en passant par une fenêtre
  the thief quietly entered the house through a window
• le chat observait l'aquarium en catimini
  the cat surreptitiously watched the fish tank
• ils organisent souvent des marchés en catimini
  they often conduct deals under the table