I understand there are no secrets these days — that everything’s on the table. And I realize that you’re definitely in trouble if you don’t thank your significant other during an award acceptance speech. But there’s something to be said for understatement and deft allusions rather than specific, heartfelt affirmations that sound like they were written for a speech.

Two days ago in Palm Springs Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek went the latter route. He and Bohemian costar Lucy Boynton, 24, have been doing the bop ** since at least last May, but he confirmed their relationship anyway while accepting the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

“Thank you, Lucy Boynton,” he said. “You have been my ally, my confidante, my love…I appreciate you so much.”

Hearing from someone near and dear that I’m “appreciated” doesn’t exactly warm the cockles of my heart. The word is a rote-sounding, dryly positive blanket term. Everyone in the world uses it because anybody can appreciate anything without getting their feet wet. It’s a businessy, daylight-hour, arm’s-length word. “I appreciated the kind gesture” or “I deeply appreciate your donation to my son’s cub scout troop”…that line of country. Percy Bysshe Shelley would have put it some other way.

** Otherwise known as “rop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”