# pipe down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pipe-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be quiet; to refrain from being noisy.

## Examples

- Please pipe down while I am on this call.
- The teacher asked the students to pipe down so the class could begin the exam.
- After the crowd refused to pipe down, the speaker waited patiently for the room to return to a state of order.

## Origin

From the verb pipe, the expression relates to the phrase lay the pipe.

---

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.