In the dark literally means without light; figuratively, it means not knowing what is going on. Be in the dark about something means to know nothing about it; keep someone in the dark means to deliberately not tell them: They kept us in the dark about the changes. The figurative meaning suits conversation and IELTS Speaking; in a formal essay, were not informed is simpler.
When would you say in the dark?
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in the dark (= without light); be in the dark about + something; keep somebody in the dark (about + something)
- The power went off during the storm, and we sat in the dark for two hours.
- Staff were kept in the dark about the merger until the official announcement.
- I'm still in the dark about why my visa application was rejected.
What changed
First versionNobody told me about the new schedule, so I was completely in dark.
RevisionNobody told me about the new schedule, so I was completely in the dark.
The article is easy to leave out here. But in the dark is a fixed expression, and nobody says it without the, whether they mean darkness or not knowing. The corrected sentence puts the article back.
Context tells you which meaning is intended: We sat in the dark means there was no light; I'm in the dark about the plan means I don't know what is planned. By contrast, after dark and before dark have no article: Let's get home before dark.
Your turn
The managers had known about the job cuts for weeks but kept the rest of the team ___.
Show the answer
in the dark — The managers knew about the job cuts and deliberately said nothing, so they kept the team in the dark. In the unknown is not used this way in English: you cannot keep people in the unknown.
Think of a time when you were not told about an important change. Write who kept it from you and what you did not know, using kept me in the dark.
My bank kept me in the dark about the new fees until I saw them on my statement.
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