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