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Glite Dictionary
to keep shtum

to keep shtum

1 9.9
To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble
  • phrasal verb
  • /kiːp ʃtʌm/
  • Slang
translation icon : mantenerse en silencio
  • Sure, I should have kept shtum, and I regret not having done so.

Examples

  • In that situation, it's better to keep shtum and avoid any conflict.

  • He decided to keep shtum during the meeting to prevent any drama.

  • When asked about the secret, she chose to keep shtum rather than risk sharing too much.

Synonyms

to be quiet
vsto keep shtum
231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

is deliberate silence specifically to avoid trouble rather than general quiet
to keep one's mouth shut
vsto keep shtum
  • Informal
116 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

is deliberate silence intended mainly to avoid trouble rather than accidental quiet
to keep quiet
vsto keep shtum
90 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

is driven more by avoiding trouble than by simple quietness
to refrain
vsto keep shtum
87 4.2

Choose not to do something you want to do

is specifically silence chosen to avoid trouble rather than any avoided action
to shut one's mouth
vsto keep shtum
  • Informal
4 4.4

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

is voluntary silence chosen to avoid trouble rather than forced silence
to hold one's tongue
vsto keep shtum
  • Informal
3 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

is silence used mainly to avoid trouble rather than merely prevent conflict
to keep mum
vsto keep shtum
  • Informal
3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

is silence that avoids trouble rather than only protecting secrets
to keep one's cakehole shut
vsto keep shtum
  • Offensive
9.9

Not say anything or tell other people

is silence aimed at avoiding trouble but without the coarse informal tone

Antonyms

to speak out
220 3.4

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

to divulge
45 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

How Silent

to keep shtum
  • Slang
1 9.9
to keep mum
  • Informal
3 7.5
to be quiet
231 1.0

Surface Forms

keep shtum infinitive
keeping shtum present participle
keeps shtum third person singular
kept shtum past
kept shtum past participle

Morphology

keep + shtum

The verb 'keep' (to continue or maintain) plus 'shtum' (meaning 'silent') yields the straightforward compositional meaning 'remain silent' and parallels patterns like 'keep quiet,' so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the sense. Although 'shtum' is a Yiddish borrowing that many learners may not know, the internal logic of 'keep + [silent]' is transparent.

Etymology

The expression keep shtum may come from the Yiddish or German word shtum, which means 'silent'. Imagine you keep your mouth shtum — not speaking to avoid trouble — so the phrase means 'to remain silent'.