hardly a secret – French expression What does ” un secret de polichinelle ” mean? How do you say ‘hardly a secret’ in French? How is it pronounced? How is it used in a French sentence? Listen to Anne, a French native say it at FrenchHour.com. un secret de polichinelle – a secret of Punchinello, the character from Italian ‘la commedia dell’arte’. In everyday French, un secret de polichinelle means that there is something that everyone knows, but won’t talk about. In English, t’s ‘an open secret’, or ‘hardly a secret’. * « Pour faire des progrès en français, il faut réviser tous les jours. Ça, c’est un secret de polichinelle. »* “To improve one’s French, you must review every day. That’s hardly a secret.” Tenses and Modes * présent de l’indicatif : Ça, c’est un secret de polichinelle.* conditionnel présent : Ça, ce serait un secret de polichinelle. Try using this expression at least once today. Did you like it? Please share and link. . Free access to the whole site as a Premium Member BECOME A MEMBER . . Today’s French . List . Mot du Jour . List . Le Blogue . 3 Great Memberships . Courses . Donate . AUDIO