内心期待している

[sampaguita]

I heard this in a drama (Nihongo no shiranai Nihongo), and I couldn't understand what it means. I can't get the context either, so I'm just going to put the entire sentences here:

内心期待していると思うだけど名あ、俺は。。。

What does it mean, and could you please break it down for me? Or is this an idiomatic expression? Thank you!

[Ongakuka]

'Think on the inside (they) are hoping/wishing/expecting (for something I don't know without context) though, me.'

I put 'me' at the end to imitate his speech pattern. It doesn't mean he thinks he is the one being 期待されている。

だけど名あ　＞　だけどなあ　(Typo?)

[sampaguita]

Thanks Ongakuka! Yes, the 名あ is a typo.

It seems to me that some particles were omitted here. Should it have been

内心を期待してると思うだけど?

[Shiroisan]

Thanks Ongakuka! Yes, the 名あ is a typo.

It seems to me that some particles were omitted here. Should it have been

内心を期待してると思うだけど?

no, 内心 is an adverb in this case. Just like saying 早く.

But besides that fact, what goes before the を would have to be what you have the expectations/hopes of.

[sampaguita]

Thanks Shiroisan! I checked jisho.org and it lists 内心 as an adverbial noun...does that mean that it doesn't need a に or と for it to function like an adverb? Thanks!

[Ongakuka]

Yes

Edit: for the sake of interest, 内心は期待している comes up in searches. The particle would be for the purpose of contrasting 内心, inwardly, as oppose to outwardly (外面的 ?)

[sampaguita]

Thanks!