keep one's mouth shut en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether.
Charles has failed to follow the example of his mother, the queen, who has heroically kept her mouth shut for more than 50 years.
2004 November 23, Alan Cowell, “Charles Joins Fray Over Himself”, in New York Times, retrieved 25 Oct 2008:He thought that he could get him a regular salary if he would come to Packingtown and do as he was told, and keep his mouth shut.
1905 April–October, Upton Sinclair, chapter XXV, in The Jungle, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 26 February 1906, →OCLC:Near-synonym: keep it in the family
He said he had raised his concerns about the invasion with senior embassy staff several times. "I was told to keep my mouth shut in order to avoid ramifications," he said.
2022 May 23, Emma Farge, “Russian diplomat in Switzerland says he resigns over Ukraine invasion”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 26 May 2022, Europe:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeps one's mouth shut | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| kept one's mouth shut | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kept one's mouth shut | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| keeping one's mouth shut | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
blue code of silence · code of silence · wall of silence · omertà · blue wall of silence
Synonyms
keep it in the family · STFD · keep one's lips sealed · STFU · clam up · zip it · keep one's own counsel
Translations (9)
fi pitää suunsa kiinni (Translations) · it tenere la bocca chiusa (Translations) · sv hålla käften (Translations) · sv hålla käft (Translations) · pl trzymać buzię na kłódkę (Translations) · ro își ține gura (Translations) · ru держа́ть язы́к за зуба́ми (Translations) · fi pitää suu kiinni (Translations) · da holde kæft (Translations)