# keep it in the family

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-it-in-the-family
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- They decided to keep it in the family and not tell anyone else.
- The owners want to keep it in the family, so they are only offering the job to their children.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.