# keep one's mouth shut

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-ones-mouth-shut
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether.

## Examples

- Please keep your mouth shut about the surprise party.
- The boss told me the news early, but I had to keep my mouth shut until the official announcement.
- Despite the intense pressure from the investigators to reveal his accomplice, he chose to keep his mouth shut and face the consequences alone.

---

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.