mum's the word
Keep it secret
Mum's the word means keep this secret or say nothing about this.
Mum here is an old word for silence, related to the closed-lips sound "mmm." The phrase functions as a request or agreement to maintain secrecy: I'll tell you what happened, but mum's the word.
Someone might respond Mum's the word to promise discretion.
- omertàCriminal vow of silence
- code of silenceTacit agreement against disclosure
- sworn to secrecyObligated to withhold information
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- silenceTotal lack of sound
reticence · hush · hush hush · hold your tongue · keep mum · zip it · taciturnity · discretion · tight-lipped · poker face · non-disclosure · under wraps · covert · secret societies · spycraft · keep quiet · keep it quiet · concealment
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- hush commandsshh, shhh, ssh, hush up, be silent
- Shakespeare phrasesto be or not to be, et tu Brute, all the world's a stage, out damned spot, friends Romans countrymen
- silence commandshush, shh, shush, be quiet, quiet
mum's the wordblab
Divulge indiscreetly
spill the beans · let the cat out of the bag · tell all · kiss and tell · broadcast
mum's the wordblabbermouth
One who reveals secrets
motormouth · chatterbox · gossip · run one's mouth · shoot one's mouth off
word, mums, words, worded, wording, wordless, wordy, wordiness