not-so-secret
UK[ˌnɒt səʊ ˈsiːkrət]US[ˌnɑːt soʊ ˈsiːkrət]
adj
Used to describe something that is supposedly secret but is in fact widely known or obvious.
Etymology
The term "not-so-secret" is a modern English compound adjective, a lexicalized phrase that follows a common pattern for creating descriptive terms. It is built from the common English adverbs "not" and "so," combined with the adjective "secret," which originates from Latin sēcrētus, meaning "separated, hidden." The construction mimics spoken English phrasing to create an ironic or euphemistic descriptor. Its logic is entirely syntactic and idiomatic, directly translating the phrase "not so secret" into a single attributive modifier, used to humorously or pointedly acknowledge that an alleged secret is poorly kept or transparent.
Analysis
This is a hyphenated compound adjective formed from the phrase "not so secret." It is not segmentable into classical morphemes as it is a modern English syntactic construction.
Examples
The company's not-so-secret plan for expansion was discussed openly in industry newsletters.
He made a not-so-secret visit to his rival's headquarters, followed by a pack of journalists.
Their not-so-secret weapon in the negotiation was a compelling new piece of market data.