close to the vest
Keeping cards hidden
To play something close to the vest is to be secretive or guarded, revealing little about your intentions or feelings.
The image comes from card games—holding your cards tight against your chest so opponents can't see them: She plays close to the vest about her personal life.
Also *close to the chest*.
- unrevealingNot disclosing information
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- guardedWary and restrained
- reservedRestrained in manner
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
playing it safe · private · confidential · need to know · discreet · under wraps · circumspect · hush-hush · unreadable · reticent · keeping mum · noncommittal · cagey · taciturn · tight-lipped · lips sealed · poker-faced · covert
close to the vestforthcoming
Soon to appear
open book · transparent · open · candid · frank
close to the vestexpressive
Showing feelings outwardly
demonstrative · effusive · uninhibited · unguarded · emotive
close, closely, closer, closest, closeness, enclose, enclosed, enclosure, disclose