kept counsel
Held one's tongue
To keep counsel is to remain silent about something, especially to guard a secret or refrain from sharing one's thoughts.
Someone who has kept counsel has maintained that discretion: She kept her own counsel about what she'd witnessed.
The phrase often implies wisdom in knowing when not to speak.
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
- taciturnityDisinclined to speak
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- mum's the wordKeep this secret
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
lips sealed · deliberation · muteness · close-mouthed · poker face · reserve · close to the vest · loyalty · inner circle · discretion · patience · confidentiality · dependability · integrity · reliability · circumspection · quietude · forbearance
kept counselblabbed
Revealed secrets carelessly
spilled the beans · let the cat out of the bag · blurted out · disclosed · divulged
kept counselblurted out
Uttered impulsively
shot one's mouth off · spoke out of turn · overshared · spilled · gabbed
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