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Truth, Secrecy, & Deception - Keeping Secrets

Master English idioms that relate to keeping secrets, like "between you and me" and "keep a lid on".

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English idioms relate to Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
hidden agenda

a secret reason behind a plan or action

[noun]
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Definition & Meaning of \"hidden agenda\"
between you and me

said to ask someone to keep a conversation secret

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Definition & Meaning of \"between you and me\"
to breathe a word about something

to tell other people what is supposed to stay secret

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [breathe|say] a word about {sth}\"
conspiracy of silence

used to refer to an agreement made in order to keep someone from sharing or revealing information that should be otherwise publically known

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Definition & Meaning of \"conspiracy of silence\"
to keep a lid on something

to not let something become revealed to others

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep] a lid on {sth}\"
to keep one's cards close to one's chest

to refrain from revealing one's true intentions or plans

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep|play|hold] {one's} cards close to {one's} (chest|vest)\"
to keep something under one's hat

to avoid sharing a secret with others

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep] {sth} under {one's} hat\"
to keep schtum

to decide to remain silent about something, particularly out of fear of making a situation worse

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep|stay] schtum\"
mum is the word

said as a promise or request to not tell something to anyone else

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Definition & Meaning of \"mum is the word\"
one's lips are sealed

used when one says that one will not reveal secret information

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Definition & Meaning of \"{one's} lips [are] sealed\"
skeleton in the closet

something about a person's past that they do not want to reveal or mention because it is embarrassing or unpleasant

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Definition & Meaning of \"[skeleton] in the closet\"
these four walls

used to refer to a room, in which a group of people knows or witnesses something that others do not

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Definition & Meaning of \"these four walls\"
to tell tales out of school

to share information that is secret or private

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [tell] tales (out of|outside) school\"
to keep one's own counsel

to keep one's opinions, plans, or intentions secret

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep] {one's} own counsel\"
to keep something dark

to not let other people know about something

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep] {sth} dark\"
(as) close as an oyster

a person who can be trusted with one's secrets

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Definition & Meaning of \"(as|) (close|dumb) as an oyster\"
to cover one's tracks

to conceal or destroy evidence of one's activities or whereabouts to avoid detection or punishment

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [cover] {one's} tracks\"
to paper over the cracks

to try to conceal flaws or problems temporarily, without addressing or solving them properly

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [paper] over the cracks\"
to keep something under wraps

to keep something secret or confidential and not to reveal it to others

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Definition & Meaning of \"to [keep] {sth} under wraps\"
trade secret

a piece of personal or private information that one refuses to share with anyone

[noun]
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Definition & Meaning of \"trade secret\"
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