to keep shtum

1 9.9

To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble

phrasal verb
/kiːp ʃtʌm/

Slang

: 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

445 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

is deliberate silence specifically to avoid trouble rather than general quiet

to keep quiet

vsto keep shtum

208 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

81 4.2

Choose not to do something you want to do

is specifically silence chosen to avoid trouble rather than any avoided action

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 mouth shut

vsto keep shtum

Informal

1 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 shut one's mouth

vsto keep shtum

Informal

1 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

1 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

is silence used mainly to avoid trouble rather than merely prevent conflict

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

296 3.4

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

to divulge

52 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

445 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'.