keeping your mouth shut

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   The act of not speaking or not revealing information, often to avoid trouble or keep a secret.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase or gerund. It often follows verbs like 'means' or 'involves'.

   Patterns

   • keeping your mouth shut about something
   • keeping your mouth shut on something

   Keeping your mouth shut about the surprise party was harder than I thought.

   In some situations, keeping your mouth shut is the best policy.

   He lost his job because he couldn't keep his mouth shut about the boss's mistakes.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   The act of staying silent, especially when you have the right to speak or when speaking could cause problems.

   Grammar: Often used with verbs like 'keep' or 'stay'. It can be a warning or advice.

   Patterns

   • keep your mouth shut
   • stay with your mouth shut

   When the police asked questions, he kept his mouth shut.

   She told him to keep his mouth shut and let her do the talking.

   If you want to keep your job, you'd better keep your mouth shut.

Common combinations

keep your mouth shut

He kept his mouth shut during the meeting.

keep your mouth shut about something

She kept her mouth shut about the argument.

learn to keep your mouth shut

You need to learn to keep your mouth shut sometimes.

better keep your mouth shut

You'd better keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you.

Synonyms and how they differ

stay silent

More neutral and formal; it doesn't have the same blunt or rude tone.

keep quiet

Similar but can also mean 'make no noise'; 'keep your mouth shut' focuses only on not speaking.

say nothing

A plain alternative that is less idiomatic and less forceful.

Opposites

Commonly confused: keeping your mouth shut or shut your mouth?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “keeping your mouth shut”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words