keep one's cards close to one's chest en · VERB
Pronunciation
Etymology
The figurative sense is a self-evident extension from the literal sense.
Meanings
-
(figuratively, idiomatic) To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.
However, the operator is keeping its cards close to its chest.
2023 June 28, Ben Jones, “Are we getting rid of our (still useful) rolling stock too early?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 29:Abdullah has not yet revealed his choice for the No 2 post when he takes over as prime minister, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.
2002 December 25, Anil Netto, “Malaysia: Year of surprises and hardships”, in Asia Times, retrieved 25 Oct 2008:Balthus has always kept his cards close to his chest. When I asked him if Summertime was a transcription of Poussin's Echo and Narcissus—a variant of his lost copy—he did not reply.
1997, Sabine Rewald, “Balthus's Magic Mountain”, in The Burlington Magazine, volume 139, number 1134, page 626:
- (qualifier:literal) To hold one's hand close to one's chest so that other players cannot see the cards.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| kept one's cards close to one's chest | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kept one's cards close to one's chest | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| keeping one's cards close to one's chest | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| keeps one's cards close to one's chest | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
play one's cards close to one's vest (both senses) · hold one's cards close to one's vest (both senses) · chest one's cards (both senses) · chest one's cards · hold one's cards close to one's chest (both senses) · play one's cards close to one's chest (both senses) · keep one's counsel · keep one's cards close to one's vest (both senses)
Translations (7)
fi pitää korttinsa piilossa (Translations) · fr cacher son jeu (Translations) · pl nie odkrywać kart (Translations) · de sich nicht in die Karten schauen lassen (Translations) · es no soltar prenda (Translations) · fi salailla (Translations) · pl nie odkryć kart (Translations)