# tight lips

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tight-lips
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Of a person, silence or reticence.

## Examples

- Keep tight lips about the surprise party.
- The detective asked the witness to keep tight lips until the investigation was finished.
- Despite the intense pressure from the board of directors, the executive maintained tight lips regarding the company's impending merger.

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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.