ENGLISH
REFERENCE

keep it in the family

idiom
Meaning

To restrict knowledge or information to only the members of a family or another small, intimate group.


Examples
SIMPLE

They decided to keep it in the family and not tell anyone else.

CONTEXTUAL

The owners want to keep it in the family, so they are only offering the job to their children.

COMPLEX

Rather than seeking outside investors for the struggling business, the founders chose to keep it in the family to maintain total control over their legacy.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    cobbler, keep to your last

    One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.

  2. 02

    earn one's keep

    To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.

  3. 03

    family jewels

    The testicles.

  4. 04

    keep a civil tongue in one's head

    To maintain a polite manner of speaking.

  5. 05

    keep a close watch

    to pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.

  6. 06

    keep a cool head

    To keep one's cool; to stay calm.

  7. 07

    keep a lid on

    To keep something secret.

  8. 08

    keep a low profile

    To be discreet and quiet.

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