secret sauce

noun

1

: a sauce that adds an important element to a dish and that has ingredients which are typically kept secret

A frank of beef, pork, and veal … is split lengthwise, coated with secret sauce, and cooked on a grill.

—Jane and Michael Stern

called also special sauce

2

: an element, quality, ability, or practice that makes something or someone successful or distinctive

If leadership has a secret sauce, it may well be humility. A humble boss understands that there are things he doesn't know.

—The Economist

called also special sauce

Examples of secret sauce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But his exceptional comedic timing, versatility as an actor, iconic roles in beloved family-friendly films, and the ability to seamlessly transition between comedic and dramatic roles is the secret sauce behind his durability. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Prarthana Prakash found the secret sauce to landing the top CEO job in Europe is experience leading an international division. —Alex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 28 Nov. 2024

In the show, Thomas works with chef and manager Jeff McWilliams to cook up some steak fajitas, complete with vegetables and a secret sauce. —The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024

My secret sauce is anything to do with science and technology. —Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 2