Upper Intermediate
Give no words but mum - Shakespeare Speaks.mp4
Give no words but mum
Meaning
The phrase give no words but mum is usually simplified to just keep mum. It means: don't tell anyone - it's a secret.
Example sentence
Mark Hamill to keep mum amid Star Wars Skywalker speculation
Note
Another version of the phrase is mum's the word.
Example sentence
Don't tell anyone you saw me here. Mum's the word!
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Extra vocabulary
your secret’s safe with me
I won't tell anyone your secret
keep it under wraps
keep it secret
don't tell a soul
don't tell anyone
I won’t breathe a word
I won't tell anyone your secret
my lips are sealed
I won't tell anyone your secret
keep your mouth shut
keep a secret
blab
reveal a secret
let the cat out of the bag
reveal a secret (usually by accident)
let it slip
reveal a secret (usually by accident)
spill the beans
reveal a secret
give the game away
reveal a secret
a blabbermouth
someone who reveals secrets
Meaning
The phrase give no words but mum is usually simplified to just keep mum. It means: don't tell anyone - it's a secret.
Example sentence
Mark Hamill to keep mum amid Star Wars Skywalker speculation
Note
Another version of the phrase is mum's the word.
Example sentence
Don't tell anyone you saw me here. Mum's the word!
____________________
Extra vocabulary
your secret’s safe with me
I won't tell anyone your secret
keep it under wraps
keep it secret
don't tell a soul
don't tell anyone
I won’t breathe a word
I won't tell anyone your secret
my lips are sealed
I won't tell anyone your secret
keep your mouth shut
keep a secret
blab
reveal a secret
let the cat out of the bag
reveal a secret (usually by accident)
let it slip
reveal a secret (usually by accident)
spill the beans
reveal a secret
give the game away
reveal a secret
a blabbermouth
someone who reveals secrets
Upper Intermediate
#Shakespeare_Speaks
A pound of flesh
Meaning
Modern English speakers use the phrase a pound of flesh when someone says they want justice, but the punishment they're asking for is so severe that it seems more like revenge.
Example sentence
I apologised and paid for the repairs after I crashed his car, but it isn't enough for him. He wants his pound of flesh. I think he's going to call the police…
Note
In modern day usage, we can also use a pound of flesh to talk about something which is owed, but will be hurtful or difficult to provide.
Example sentence
My boss is making me work so hard at the moment, he really wants his pound of flesh.
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Extra vocabulary
lend
give something to someone with the understanding that it will be returned
borrow
receive something from someone with the understanding that you will return it
flesh
the soft part of the human body
revenge
something that you do to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else
justice
fairness in the way people are dealt with
seek revenge
plan to take revenge
court
a formal, legal meeting where decisions are made about a crime
revenge is a dish best served cold
it's more satisfying to wait until the time is right to get revenge
don't get mad, get even
get revenge instead of getting angry about something
get your own back
get revenge
it's payback time
it's time to get revenge
revenge is sweet
it feels good to get revenge
forgive and forget
don't try to get revenge: forget about people's mistakes and move on
price-fix scandal
an agreement between companies to keep prices high
Meaning
Modern English speakers use the phrase a pound of flesh when someone says they want justice, but the punishment they're asking for is so severe that it seems more like revenge.
Example sentence
I apologised and paid for the repairs after I crashed his car, but it isn't enough for him. He wants his pound of flesh. I think he's going to call the police…
Note
In modern day usage, we can also use a pound of flesh to talk about something which is owed, but will be hurtful or difficult to provide.
Example sentence
My boss is making me work so hard at the moment, he really wants his pound of flesh.
____________________
Extra vocabulary
lend
give something to someone with the understanding that it will be returned
borrow
receive something from someone with the understanding that you will return it
flesh
the soft part of the human body
revenge
something that you do to hurt or punish someone because they have hurt you or someone else
justice
fairness in the way people are dealt with
seek revenge
plan to take revenge
court
a formal, legal meeting where decisions are made about a crime
revenge is a dish best served cold
it's more satisfying to wait until the time is right to get revenge
don't get mad, get even
get revenge instead of getting angry about something
get your own back
get revenge
it's payback time
it's time to get revenge
revenge is sweet
it feels good to get revenge
forgive and forget
don't try to get revenge: forget about people's mistakes and move on
price-fix scandal
an agreement between companies to keep prices high