keeping one's lips sealed
Not telling anyone
Keeping one's lips sealed means staying silent about something, especially when pressured to reveal information.
The image is of a mouth physically closed to prevent words from escaping.
Someone who keeps their lips sealed refuses to talk: She kept her lips sealed about the surprise party.
Often used as a promise of discretion: My lips are sealed.
- mutenessInability to speak
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- zipped lipsSworn to secrecy
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
reservedness · confidentiality · off the record · need to know · discretion · nondisclosure · wordlessness · taciturnity · privacy · covertness · omertà · loose lips sink ships · loyalty · unspoken agreement · sworn to secrecy · speechlessness · clandestineness · hush
keeping one's lips sealedspilling the beans
Disclosing confidential information
letting the cat out of the bag · blabbing · divulging · disclosing · exposing
keeping one's lips sealedgossiping
Talking about absent people
spreading rumors · tattling · blabbering · loose lips · telling tales out of school