Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to keep one's mouth shut

to keep one's mouth shut

116 5.6
To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : callarse
  • If you want to stay out of trouble, you should keep your mouth shut about what you saw.
  • just keep your mouth shut
  • told to keep your mouth shut
  • going to keep your mouth shut

Examples

Synonyms

to be quiet
vsto keep one's mouth shut
231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

is more about not revealing information or avoiding trouble, not just silence
to keep quiet
vsto keep one's mouth shut
90 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

is an idiom used to avoid trouble or hide facts
to keep a secret
vsto keep one's mouth shut
76 2.6

To not tell anyone private information

focuses on silence as a way to preserve secrets or avoid trouble
to shut one's mouth
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
4 4.4

To stop talking to keep a secret or when told to be quiet

is the broader phrase for not revealing information or avoiding trouble
to hold one's tongue
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
3 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

is used more for secrecy or avoiding external trouble rather than conflict
to keep mum
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

is used more to avoid trouble rather than only protecting secrets
to keep shtum
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Slang
1 9.9

To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble

is a general choice to not reveal information rather than outright refusal
to keep one's cards close to one's chest
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
1 7.6

To not tell people your plans or feelings to get an advantage

is broader, applying to general silence to avoid trouble rather than strategy
to button one's lip
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
7.2

To keep quiet on purpose and not tell others

is a common way to stay silent to hide facts or avoid trouble
to zip someone's lip
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
8.4

To keep quiet and not tell others about something

is the similar idea but often about the speaker choosing silence
to keep one's cakehole shut
vsto keep one's mouth shut
  • Offensive
9.9

Not say anything or tell other people

is the more neutral idiom used to avoid trouble or hide information

Antonyms

to reveal
∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

to speak out
220 3.4

To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult

How Talkative

to spill the beans
  • Informal
18 6.0
to speak up
43 2.0
to be quiet
231 1.0
to keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
116 5.6

Surface Forms

keep one's mouth shut infinitive
kept one's mouth shut past
kept one's mouth shut past participle
keeping one's mouth shut present participle
keeps one's mouth shut third person singular

Morphology

keep + one's + mouth + shut

The meaning 'to not say anything' is directly and literally derived from combining 'keep' (retain), 'one's mouth' (the speaking opening), and 'shut' (closed) — i.e., keeping one's mouth closed. This is a transparent, compositional image that exists across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Keep one's mouth shut gives a clear picture: imagine closing your mouth so it is shut and no words can come out. That's why it means 'to not say anything', 'to keep a secret', or 'to avoid trouble'.