What does “be privy to” mean?
English phrase – “be privy to (something)” 🕵🏻♂️
This phrase means to know private information or a secret that most people don’t know.
For example – Doctors are privy to their patients’ medical histories and personal information.
Clip 1
Easy A (2020)
In this scene, Olive (Emma Stone) is in a meeting with her teacher Mr. Griffith who tells her he has had rumours about her love life. Olive responds jokingly by saying “When did teachers become privy to idle, adolescent gossip?”
Olive uses this phrase to ironically mock Mr. Griffith and the other teachers for becoming interested in the private lives of teenage students.
Clip 2
Marriage Story – (2019)
In this clip, Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) are a couple going through a divorce and are in the middle of an argument.
Charlie uses the phrase “I was not privy to that thought process” to respond to Nicole after she said that she assumed their family would continue living in Los Angeles for a longer period of time due to her job.
Charlie is telling Nicole that he was not aware of this plan and uses: “I was not privy to..” to emphasise his unawareness.
Clip 3
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
In this scene, Val says: “I’ve been privy to every conversation” to let Everett Ross know that she has been secretly listening to all his conversations with the Wakandans which Ross thought were private.
“I have been privy to..”, shows that Val has been aware of all the secret and private information Ross has been exchanging with the Wakandans.
Clip 4
Once Upon a Time in Mexico – (2003)
Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) is a hit-man who becomes involved with corrupt CIA agent, Sands (Johnny Depp). Mariachi mentions to Sands that he killed his own brother and Sands responds by saying “Yes, I was privy to that information already.”
Sands uses the phrase “I was privy to..” to demonstrate how much he knows about Mariachi’s past, despite it being something that most people wouldn’t know.