What does the idiom "keep sth quiet" mean?

The phrase keep sth quiet is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of keep sth quiet.

Meaning of "keep sth quiet"

Meaning

The phrase “keep something quiet” is an idiom meaning to not make a secret known to other people. It implies that the person wants to keep the information confidential and not share it with others. It may be used in situations when someone wants to keep an event, a plan or a conversation private or to keep certain information from becoming public.

Etymology

The phrase “keep something quiet” is an idiomatic expression that originated in the English language. It is believed that this phrase first appeared in the 17th century, when people began to use the phrase “keep something quiet” to describe the act of not discussing something with other people. The phrase was then used to refer to a secretive relationship between two people or a group of people and was first seen in literature in the 1780s. Since then, the phrase has become a common part of the English language and is used to convey a sense of privacy or secrecy.

Usage

The phrase “keep something quiet” is mainly used in informal settings. It is often used between friends, family members and colleagues, when someone wants to keep a certain event or plan a secret. The phrase can also be used to describe an information or policy that should not be discussed publicly or shared with others. It can also be used to refer to a private conversation between two or more people, which should not be shared with anyone else.

Example Sentences

  • We need to keep this plan quiet until we are sure it will work.
  • Let's keep this conversation between the two of us.
  • I'm sorry, but I can't tell you any more than that - I need to keep it quiet.
  • The company only shared the information with a select few - they wanted to keep it quiet.

The meanings of the words in the "keep sth quiet" idiom

Idioms with similar meaning

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is an English idiom that means you shouldn't make assumptions about someone or something based solely on its appearance. In Japanese, the similar idiom is "Hana yori dango," which translates to "Dumplings rather than flowers." This idiom means that substance is more important than appearance.

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