kept one's counsel
Held one's tongue
To keep one's counsel is to remain silent about one's thoughts, plans, or opinions—to hold back rather than share what you know or believe.
The phrase suggests deliberate discretion: She kept her counsel during the meeting, waiting to see how others would vote.
Someone who keeps their own counsel is private and self-contained, not given to sharing confidences or seeking advice.
- reticenceHabitual verbal restraint
- quietLacking in sound
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- composureEmotional self-control
- close-mouthedUnwilling to speak freely
said nothing · secrecy · deliberation · circumspection · tight-lipped · confidentiality · need to know · concealment · close to the vest · taciturnity · diplomacy · guardedness · prudence · reserve · caution · muteness · subtlety · stoicism
kept one's counselblurted out
Uttered impulsively
spoke one's mind · spoke up · spilled the beans · let the cat out of the bag · opened up
kept one's counsellost one's temper
Became suddenly enraged
flew off the handle · let it all out · vented · exploded · lashed out
kept one's counselblurted out
Uttered impulsively
shot one's mouth off · let slip · overshared · talked out of turn · kissed and told
keeps, keeping, keeper, keepers, kept, ones, counsel, counsels, counseled