keeps one's cards close to one's chest
Reveals nothing prematurely
To keep one's cards close to one's chest is to be secretive about one's intentions or resources, revealing little to others.
The image is from card games where concealing your hand gives you an advantage: She keeps her cards close to her chest about the merger negotiations.
The phrase suggests strategic caution rather than deception.
- indirectnessLack of straightforwardness
- veilingConcealing with covering
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- need to knowRestricted information access basis
trade secrets · coded language · concealment · privacy · opacity · non-disclosure · hidden agenda · reticence · strategic silence · ambiguity · prudence · playing it safe · close to the vest · foresight · poker face · reservation · understatement · guardedness
keeps one's cards close to one's chestwears one's heart on one's sleeve
Displays feelings without concealment
tells all · spills the beans · bares one's soul · lets it all hang out · forthcoming
keeps one's cards close to one's chestwears one's heart on one's sleeve
Displays feelings without concealment
expressive · demonstrative · effusive · gushes · uninhibited