# keep one's cards close to one's chest

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-ones-cards-close-to-ones-chest
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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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.