hide behind

verb

To use someone or something as a shield in order to avoid taking responsibility for something; to avoid attention by using someone or something as a shield.

“Don't hide behind that rock, come out in the open!”

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Meanings

verbhide behind (third-person singular simple present hides behind, present participle hiding behind, simple past hid behind, past participle hidden behind)

present singular third person hides behind · participle present hiding behind · past hid behind · participle past hidden behind

  1. transitiveTo use someone or something as a shield in order to avoid taking responsibility for something; to avoid attention by using someone or something as a shield.

    Don't hide behind your spokesman, speak for yourself!

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hide, behind.

    Don't hide behind that rock, come out in the open!

Cite this entry
APA

hide behind. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hide%20behind

MLA

“hide behind.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hide%20behind. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hide behind,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hide%20behind.

Source: hide behind on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.