keep mum

English

One of the series of posters using the expression "keep mum"

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

keep mum (third-person singular simple present keeps mum, present participle keeping mum, simple past and past participle kept mum)

1. (idiomatic) To refrain from talking, especially to remain silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
   • c. 1940, British wartime poster

     Be like dad, keep mum.

Synonyms

• keep shtum
• stay mum

Translations

to keep silent

• Maori: whakahū, whakangūngū
• Russian: молча́ть в тря́почку (ru) impf (molčátʹ v trjápočku)
• Spanish: hacer mutis (colloquial), no decir ni pío
• Swedish: hålla mun

See also

• bite one's tongue
• breathe a word
• mum's the word