kept one's cards close to one's chest
Hid one's intentions
To keep one's cards close to one's chest is to be secretive about one's intentions, plans, or resources—like a poker player concealing their hand from opponents.
The phrase implies strategic caution rather than deception: She kept her cards close to her chest during negotiations.
Also *close to the vest*.
- non-disclosureMandated secrecy obligation
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- trade secretsProtected commercial knowledge
self-control · understatement · concealment · under wraps · behind closed doors · hidden agenda · crypticness · vagueness · calculation · evasiveness · inscrutability · discretion · poker face · opacity · subtlety · guardedness · privacy · detachment
kept one's cards close to one's chestspilled the beans
Revealed a secret
let the cat out of the bag · came clean · bared all · wore one's heart on one's sleeve · blabbed
kept one's cards close to one's chestwore one's heart on one's sleeve
Showed feelings without concealment
let it all hang out · open book · expressive · effusive · unguarded