keeping one's mouth shut
Not saying anything
Keeping one's mouth shut means staying silent, especially when speaking might cause trouble or reveal something better left unsaid.
The phrase implies deliberate restraint—not just being quiet, but choosing not to share information, opinions, or secrets: If you'd kept your mouth shut, we wouldn't be in this mess.
It often carries a warning tone: Keep your mouth shut about what you saw.
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
- sworn to secrecyObligated to withhold information
- quietLacking in sound
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
need to know · off the record · polite · self-control · mute · guarded · diplomatic · reticent · silent protest · radio silence · covert · unspoken · gag order · hush · keep mum · zip it · omertà · respectful
keeping one's mouth shutblabbing
Carelessly sharing secrets
spilling the beans · talking · letting the cat out of the bag · tattling · gossiping
keeping one's mouth shutspeaking out
speaking up · standing up · breaking silence · sounding off · protesting
keeps, keeper, keepers, keeping, mouth, mouths, mouthed, mouthing