# pact of silence

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pact-of-silence
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A tacit agreement not to discuss a certain topic

## Examples

- The friends made a pact of silence about the broken window.
- After the accident, the witnesses formed a pact of silence to protect their friend from the police.
- The conspirators maintained a strict pact of silence, ensuring that the details of their illicit arrangement never reached the public ear.

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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.