между нами говоря

• МЕЖДУ НАМИ ГОВОРЯ; МЕЖДУ НАМИ both coll

[Verbal Adv (1st var.), PrepP (2nd var.); these forms only; sent adv, parenth (both variants) or subj-compl with быть, остаться (subj: usu. это or этот разговор, наша беседа etc - 2nd var.)]

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⇒ as a secret that should not be known to anyone other than ourselves:

- (just <strictly etc>) between us (you and me, ourselves);

- between you, me, and the lamppost (bedpost, back porch etc).

     ♦ ...В газетах появилось мрачное имя Чомбе. (Между нами говоря, правильнее было бы сказать Чомба.) (Искандер 4). ...The name of Tshombe appeared in the papers. (Just between us, it would be more correct to say Tshomba.) (4a).

     ♦ [Гусь:] Я ведь к вам отчасти по делу. Только это между нами (Булгаков 7). [G.:] I have come to see you partly on business Only this is just between you and me (7a).

     ♦ Говоря строго между нами... я соврал тебе давеча про наше хорошее положение. Положение у нас хуже некуда (Терц 6). Strictly between ourselves...I told you a lie when I said that things were not as bad as they might be. The fact is, they couldn't be worse (6a).