low-profile
low-profile (idiomatic adjective)
/loʊ ˈproʊ.faɪl/
Synopsis
The phrase “low-profile” means to stay quiet, modest, or not attract attention. It first appeared in early nineteenth-century Britain, where it was used in a military report to describe a wall built low to the ground. Over time, the phrase moved from describing physical height to describing people or actions that stay out of the spotlight and avoid publicity.
Meanings
- Intentionally avoiding attention or publicity; keeping oneself unnoticed.
- Showing modest or unassuming behavior or style.
- Acting in a discreet or quiet manner to avoid drawing notice.
- (Literal/technical) Having a small vertical size or slim design.
Synonyms: be inconspicuous; stay under the radar; keep a low profile; lay low; be discreet; remain anonymous; be unassuming.
Example Sentences
- After the controversy, the actor chose to low-profile his public appearances to stay out of the news.
- The designer maintained a low-profile image, letting her work speak for itself.
- The company launched the new product with a low-profile marketing plan to avoid competitors’ attention.
- The engineer selected a low-profile keyboard that fits easily under the monitor (literal).
Origin and History
The term “low-profile” is a compound formed from two English words: “low,” meaning below the normal height or level, and “profile,” meaning the outline or shape of something when viewed from the side. The noun “profile” entered English in the seventeenth century from Italian “profilo” through French. When combined, the phrase literally describes something having a reduced or minimal contour. Over time, this literal description developed into both technical and figurative meanings, describing physical structures and later, modest or discreet behavior.
Early Printed Record
The earliest known printed use of “low profile” appears in 1812 in The Royal Military Chronicle in an article titled Journal of the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812 by Lieutenant-Colonel Jones. The passage reads:
“The exterior enclosure is a modern fausse-braie, of a low profile, constructed so far down the slope of the hill as to afford but little cover to the interior wall.”
Here, “low profile” is used in its original, literal sense to describe a fortification with a reduced height or low elevation. This reference establishes that the compound existed in English military writing in the early nineteenth century, long before its later technical and figurative uses.
Literal Development
During the nineteenth century, “low-profile” continued to appear in architectural and engineering contexts to describe objects or structures with a shallow height or minimal outline. Its earliest sense remained literal, referring to a physical design feature that reduced visibility or elevation. This meaning naturally suited military, architectural, and technical vocabulary, where the height of objects—walls, embankments, or machines—was an important quality.
Figurative Evolution
The figurative use of “low-profile” developed later, extending from its literal foundation. By the mid-twentieth century, it began to describe behavior or strategy characterized by restraint, discretion, or a deliberate avoidance of attention. This newer sense carried forward the same visual image—something that does not stand high or attract notice—but applied it to people, organizations, and policies rather than physical forms.
Country of Origin
The earliest printed record shows that “low-profile” first appeared in British English, within a military context describing fortification design. Although the figurative idiom later became widely used in American English, its earliest documented origin lies in early nineteenth-century Britain.
Origin Summary
The phrase “low-profile” originated as a literal compound in early nineteenth-century British military writing, describing a structure of reduced height. Over time, this straightforward physical description broadened into technical and figurative meanings. Today, the idiom preserves the same visual idea—of keeping below view—but applies it to human behavior and public presence, symbolizing modesty, restraint, and avoidance of attention.
Variants
- keep a low profile
- fly under the radar
- stay under the radar
- low-profile (compound adjective)
- lay low
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