These six expressions all involve privacy, but they focus on different things: the listener, the information, reporting rules or access to a discussion.
- Between you and me introduces a private remark that you do not want the listener to repeat. It is common in informal conversation. Between you and me, I preferred the old manager.
- In confidence emphasizes trust: someone shares information expecting it to remain private. It works in both personal and professional situations. She told her supervisor in confidence that she was looking for another job.
- For your ears only stresses that the message is intended only for the person addressed. It can sound emphatic or playful. This update is for your ears only, so please don’t pass it on.
- Off the record usually concerns information not intended for publication or official reporting. In journalism, agree on the terms before sharing; merely saying the phrase does not guarantee confidentiality. The official agreed to discuss the proposal off the record.
- Behind closed doors describes a meeting or activity held privately, without public access. It does not necessarily mean every detail must remain secret afterward. The committee interviewed the candidates behind closed doors.
- Under wraps describes something kept secret, often until a planned announcement or reveal. The studio kept the film’s ending under wraps until opening night.
These expressions can overlap. A private meeting might include confidential information, but describing where a discussion happens is different from setting rules about sharing it.