bedpost

In complete confidence between the speaker and the listener, as of a forthcoming secret or rumor. Now, this is between you, me, and the lamppost, but I'm thinking about filing for divorce. Between you, me, and the lamppost, I hear that they're going to lay off half the staff by the end of the week.

A casual sexual partner, especially a one-night stand, counted as a tally in the overall number of someone's sexual partners. Janet was never interested in a serious boyfriend during college; she was only looking for notches in her bedpost. So is that all I am to you, John? A notch in your bedpost?

A casual sexual partner, especially a one-night stand, counted as a tally in the overall number of someone's sexual partners. Janet was never interested in a serious boyfriend during college; she was only looking for notches on her bedpost. So is that all I am to you, John? A notch on your bedpost?

Fig. a somewhat affected way of signaling that you are about to tell a secret. Alan: What's wrong with Ellen these days? She seems so touchy. Jane: Between you and me and the bedpost, I've heard that her boyfriend is seeing someone else. Jill: How much did you get for your used car? Jane: Well—between you and me and these four walls—five thousand dollars.

without telling anyone else Between you and me, I think she made up the whole story about being robbed.

something that you say when you are going to tell someone something you do not want them to tell anyone else Just between you and me, I don't think his work is quite up to standard. Between you, me and the gatepost, I'm thinking of leaving.

Also, between ourselves; just between you and me and the bedpost or four walls or gatepost or lamppost . In strict confidence. For example, Just between you and me, it was Janet who proposed to Bill rather than vice versa. This phrase, dating from about 1300, is generally followed by some informative statement that the listener is being asked to keep secret. The variant with bedpost, also shortened to post, dates from the early 1800s; four walls, also shortened to the wall, dates from the early 1900s, as does the gatepost.