keep one's cards close to one's chest
To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He keeps his cards close to his chest about his new project.”
“You should keep your cards close to your chest during the house auction.”
“The candidate kept his cards close to his chest during the interview, refusing to discuss his salary expectations until he received an official offer.”
“My brother is keeping his cards close to his chest about where he wants to go for dinner because he wants the location to be a total surprise.”
“In the high-stakes world of corporate negotiations, the lead lawyer preferred to keep her cards close to her chest, revealing her strategy only when the moment was most advantageous.”
The figurative sense represents a self-evident extension from the literal practice of card playing. A player wishing to prevent rivals from seeing his hand holds the cards near his body, a posture of caution that transitioned into a metaphor for discretion. The phrase relies upon the immediate visual logic of the gaming table, where physical proximity to the torso serves as a rudimentary form of security.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026