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
Jane and Michael Sterncalled 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
The Economistcalled also special sauce
Examples of secret sauce in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Understanding the 'secret sauce' Ford created the repair hotline about six months ago, Farley said, because of dealers' requests.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
The burger features a double patty of wagyu beef, American cheese, secret sauce, and other toppings on a Martin's potato roll.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
May 2025 Three of Pentacles: Collaboration is your secret sauce this May, Gemini.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
But what if our siblings were the secret sauce that brought out a greater positive and negative influence?
—Brooke Lea Foster, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for secret sauce
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Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
The burger features a double patty of wagyu beef, American cheese, secret sauce, and other toppings on a Martin's potato roll.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
May 2025 Three of Pentacles: Collaboration is your secret sauce this May, Gemini.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
But what if our siblings were the secret sauce that brought out a greater positive and negative influence?
—Brooke Lea Foster, People.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for secret sauce
Cite this Entry
“Secret sauce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secret%20sauce. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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