holding one's peace
Not speaking up
To hold one's peace is to remain silent, especially when you might otherwise speak up to object or complain.
The phrase appears formally in wedding ceremonies—speak now or forever hold your peace—inviting objections before the marriage proceeds.
More broadly, it means choosing not to voice disagreement or grievance: I held my peace during the meeting, though I disagreed with everything.
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
- biting one's tongueDeliberately not speaking up
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
- self-restraintVoluntary impulse control
- keeping mumStaying deliberately silent
muteness · saying nothing · quietude · tact · diplomacy · taciturnity · abstention · reserve · hush · prudence · forbearance · wordlessness · discretion · serenity · poise · stillness · patience · temperance
holding one's peacespeaking up
Voicing your thoughts
speaking out · saying one's piece · sounding off · speaking one's mind · chiming in
holding one's peaceobjecting
Expressing formal disapproval
protesting · making waves · rocking the boat · dissenting · challenging
holding one's peacelosing one's temper
Sudden loss of composure
blowing up · letting loose · venting · exploding · going off
hold, holds, holding, holder, holders, beholden, behold, ones, oneness