keep one's cards close to one's chest
Conceal your strategy
To keep one's cards close to one's chest is to be secretive about one's plans, intentions, or resources—like a poker player concealing their hand from opponents.
The phrase suggests strategic caution rather than deception: She's keeping her cards close to her chest about whether she'll run for reelection.
Also *keep one's cards close to the vest*.
- indirectnessLack of straightforwardness
- guardednessDefensive emotional reserve
- keep mumRemain silent intentionally
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
need to know · concealment · under wraps · crypticness · subtlety · non-disclosure · circumspection · hold back · privacy · inner circle · caginess · reticence · self-control · poker face · prudence · discretion · evasiveness · calculation
keep one's cards close to one's chestwear one's heart on one's sleeve
Express feelings openly, visibly
lay one's cards on the table · show one's hand · spill the beans · let it all hang out · bare one's soul