quiet as a mouse
2
5.8
- idiom
- Informal
:
silencioso como un ratón
- During the movie, everyone was quiet as a mouse so they could hear every word.
- sit quiet as a mouse
I mean icons, but the people directly around me was quiet as a mouse on set that day.
- I mean icons, but the people directly around me was quiet as a mouse on set that day.
Examples
-
The clothes all go back to their hangers, and the child sits, quiet as a mouse, waiting for her mother to let her out.
-
Toomey takes refuge out of sight, next to a gas hot water heater, quiet as a mouse.
Fiction book (2000) -
We could make them as quiet as a mouse.
-
Dad, you walk as quiet as a mouse.
-
If you let me out, I'll be as quiet as a mouse, and just as small.
-
I'll be as quiet as a mouse.
Fiction book (1998) -
I'm as quiet as a mouse.
-
He's really a dear little boy, and quiet as a mouse.
-
She was quiet as a mouse most of the time, and she wasn't one to let particularly humorous things fly from her mouth.
Fiction book (2000) -
The child sat in the corner, quiet as a mouse, not wanting to disturb anyone.
Synonyms
517
1.0
In a quiet way that makes little or no noise
189
1.0
Not attracting attention and simple in style
129
1.2
In a quiet way without making any sound or speaking
115
5.8
Careful about what you say and do to avoid upsetting people or drawing attention
87
2.1
Not speaking or making any sound
22
4.1
Very quiet in a careful, respectful, or secret way
20
4.1
Not using speech, often shown by a look or gesture
5
4.4
In a way that makes no sound
4
2.8
In music, played very quietly so the sound is almost not heard
4
4.0
Not making any sound
3
4.4
Without making any sound
3
5.6
Without speaking or making any sound
2
4.1
Making a soft sound like a whisper
2
3.5
Not making any sound
2
6.3
So quietly that no one can hear
1
6.7
Strangely quiet in a way that makes you feel scared
1
8.6
In secret and quietly so nobody finds out
1
5.7
Completely quiet with no sound at all
In a quiet, gentle way that shows little feeling
To say something in a very quiet voice so other people cannot hear
Something that almost no one notices
Antonyms
How Quiet
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression uses the transparent simile pattern 'as X as Y' and 'mouse' evokes a small, quiet animal, so a learner who knows 'quiet', 'as', 'a', and 'mouse' can readily infer 'extremely quiet' by comparison. This construction is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English compositional patterns, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Quiet as a mouse is a saying that comes from the picture of a small mouse moving very softly and making almost no sound. So the phrase means 'extremely quiet' or 'trying not to be noticed'.