What does "In cahoots" mean?

Working together secretly, often for dishonest purposes. In a secret partnership or conspiracy, usually implying something underhanded or suspicious.

How do you use "In cahoots" in a sentence?

They're in cahoots with the competition. Those two are obviously in cahoots. The officials were in cahoots with the criminals.

In cahoots

Slang Term AmericanBritish ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: Working together secretly, often for dishonest purposes.

秘密合作，通常是为了不正当的目的。

Trabajando juntos en secreto, a menudo con fines deshonestos.

秘密裏に協力している、しばしば不正な目的で。

비밀리에 함께 일하는, 대개 부정한 목적으로.

In a secret partnership or conspiracy, usually implying something underhanded or suspicious.

处于秘密的合作关系或阴谋中，通常暗示有猫腻或可疑。

En una asociación secreta o conspiración, normalmente implicando algo turbio o sospechoso.

秘密の協力関係や陰謀を表す。通常、何か裏があるか怪しいことを暗示する。

비밀스러운 공모나 결탁 관계에 있는 것으로, 보통 수상하거나 부정한 일을 암시한다.

Literal meaning: In secret partnership

Examples

They're in cahoots with the competition.
他们和竞争对手勾结
Están confabulados con la competencia
彼らは競合他社とぐるになっている
그들은 경쟁사와 한통속이다.
Those two are obviously in cahoots.
那两个人明显是一伙的
Esos dos están claramente confabulados
あの二人は明らかにぐるだ
저 둘은 분명히 한패다.
The officials were in cahoots with the criminals.
官员们和罪犯勾结
Los funcionarios estaban confabulados con los criminales
役人たちは犯罪者とぐるだった
관리들이 범죄자들과 결탁해 있었다.

Pronunciation

/ɪn kəˈhuːts/

Usage Guide

Context: conspiracy, collusion, suspicion

Tone: accusatory, suspicious

✓ Do Say

They're in cahoots.
他们是一伙的
Están confabulados
彼らはぐるだ
그들은 한통속이다.
In cahoots with each other.
互相勾结
Confabulados entre ellos
互いにぐるになっている
서로 한패다.
Those two are in cahoots.
那两个人是一伙的
Esos dos están compinchados
あの二人はぐるだ
저 둘은 한통속이다.

✗ Don't Say

Conspiring together
Conspiring together（共谋）
Conspiring together（Conspirando juntos）
Conspiring together（共謀している）
함께 공모하는
In secret partnership
In secret partnership（秘密合作）
In secret partnership（En asociación secreta）
In secret partnership（秘密の協力関係にある）
비밀리에 협력하는

Common Mistakes

Usually implies wrongdoing
American origin but used in British English

Origin & History

Possibly from French 'cahute' meaning cabin or hut, suggesting people conspiring in a small space.

Etymology: American, possibly French origin, 19th century

First recorded: Early 1800s

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Western films; Crime stories; Political scandals

Regional notes: American origin, now universal in English.

Variations

In cahootsIn cahoots withBe in cahoots