за семью замками

• ЗА (ПОД) СЕМЬЮ ЗАМКАМИ{{}}

[PrepP; these forms only; usu. adv or subj-compl with copula]

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1. [subj: usu. human or concr]

⇒ well guarded:

- under lock and key;

- locked up tight(ly);

- guarded day and night;

- under seven locks.

     ♦ [Расплюев:] Под семью печатями и за семью замками лежит стекло... (Сухово-Кобылин 2). [R.:] A piece of glass is lying there under seven seals and seven locks... (2b).

2. [subj: abstr) well-hidden, inaccessible (often of a persons feelings): buried deep (down) inside; hidden away; [in limited contexts]

⇒ (be) a deep dark secret.

     ♦ Зная, что Людмила Николаевна замужем, Рыжков хранил свои чувства к ней за семью замками. Knowing that Lyudmila Nikolayevna was married, Ryzhkov kept his feelings for her buried deep down inside.