Meaning of keep shtum | Babel Free

Definitions

Not tell anyone; especially, keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.

colloquial, idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

“If I tell⟳ you, you have⟳ to promise⟳ to keep⟳ shtum about it.”

“Charlie Blüthner is the shmatte king of Panama, and he wouldn't be where he is today if Benny hadn't kept shtum for him just like⟳ you did for me.”

“His only chance of survival was to keep⟳ schtum. His only way of saving the others was to keep⟳ schtum and the only chance of actually keeping schtum was not to be around to do any talking. He must escape⟳. Now.”

“This evening, at a thinly attended meeting of the parliamentary party, Jim Sheridan demanded to know⟳ why ministers were interfering in the strike⟳ by the BA cabin crew – both Andrew Adonis and Gordon [Brown] denounced the strikers over the weekend. 'How have⟳ we got ourselves into this situation?' asked Ken Purchase⟳, pointing out that there had been two ballots, the last⟳ of which came out 80 per cent in favour of strike⟳ action. 'We should either be keeping shtum or back the workers.'”

“And I would plead that the situation is not unusual. It's just one of those things you're supposed to keep⟳ shtum about.”

“Reggie is another one who keeps shtum about things. But one Christmas, when I was over here and called in to wish⟳ them seasonal good cheer⟳, we had a few whiskies and he got loquacious.”

CEFR level