From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishconspiracy of silenceconspiracy of silencean agreement not to talk about something, even though it should not be a secret There’s often a conspiracy of silence surrounding bullying in schools. → conspiracy
Examples from the Corpus
conspiracy of silence• There has been a conspiracy of silence about violations of regulations.• The whole thing sometimes appears such an enigma that there might almost have been a conspiracy of silence.• There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening, says Christina Hardyment That's entertainment.• Curiously enough the Dunrossness District Plan avoids mentioning these negative aspects, so was there a conspiracy of silence here?• The overall effect is precisely the same as if there were an organised conspiracy of silence among churchmen.• Sometimes children need to break the conspiracy of silence.• Should you be acting as the peacemaker in your family, or the one who breaks the conspiracy of silence?• Then, there is the conspiracy of silence which is part of the legacy of Northern Ireland.• The conspiracy of silence about teenage sexuality had many results. 