zipping lips
Miming sealed mouth
Zipping lips is a gesture or verbal promise to keep quiet or maintain secrecy.
The image is of closing one's mouth like a zipper, sealing it shut.
Often accompanied by the actual pantomime—drawing fingers across closed lips: My lips are zipped.
The phrase zip it commands silence more curtly.
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- hushAbsence of sound
- hush hushExtremely secret, concealed
- keep quietRemain silent
- secretConcealed information
sworn to secrecy · mum · mum's the word · quiet · sealed · shush · zip it · mute · whisper · confidential · gesture · finger · promise · pinky swear · sworn · discreet · unspoken · clasped
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- Biting Your Tonguestaying quiet, holding back, keeping mum, silence
- suppressionrepression, inhibition, restraint, silencing, muzzling
- Tactful Speechtact, discretion, diplomacy, measured speech, word choice
zipping lipsblabbing
Carelessly sharing secrets
spilling the beans · letting the cat out of the bag · talking · speaking up · revealing
zipping lipsgossiping
Talking about absent people
loose lips · tattling · snitching · spreading rumors · kissing and telling