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What is the most suitable expression or idiom that can complete this sentence?

I want to do charity _________ (in secrecy) because I don't like showboating.

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    Idiomatically speaking, quietly fits the context well. It has the sense of not going to town with it.
    – Kris
    Commented Jun 9, 2017 at 9:37
  • (secretly or in secret, not in secrecy)
    – Drew
    Commented Jun 9, 2017 at 14:14
  • "Anonymous benefactor" is a common enough idiom to have become a bit of a cultural trope.
    – Michael Seifert
    Commented Jun 9, 2017 at 16:50

4 Answers 4

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anonymously

anonymous

 adjective

1. without any name acknowledged, as that of author, contributor, or the like: > an anonymous letter to the editor; an anonymous donation. 2. of unknown name; whose name is withheld: an anonymous author.

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  • This does not cover the 'with good intention' aspect, and without this qualification, 'in secrecy' is hardly a suitable question on ELU.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jun 10, 2017 at 2:31
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Consider the following options.

I want to do charity discreetly because I don't like showboating.
I want to do charity without making a song and dance about it because I don't like showboating.

ODO:

discreetly ADVERB

1 In a careful and prudent manner, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment.

‘Gift-giving in courtship traditionally was handled discreetly, with men offering women small gifts on special occasions.’

TFD(idioms):

make a song and dance about something/doing something (British & Australian)
to make something seem more important than it really is so that everyone notices it

He made a real song and dance about giving up meat.

Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.

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  • I like discreetly but the song and dance option sounds flippant.
    – aparente001
    Commented Jun 15, 2017 at 4:52
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without [a] fanfare

  1. an ostentatious display.
  2. publicity.

(Random House)

Your sentence:

I want to do charity work, but without fanfare, because I don't like showboating.

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I don't want to draw attention to myself. Or perhaps I'm reluctant to toot my own horn.

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    This doesn't fit the blank in the asker's sample sentence.
    – MetaEd
    Commented Sep 13, 2017 at 18:54

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