🤐 Lips Are Sealed, His/My
Lips are sealed, his/my - He/I will keep this secret. The idea of keeping one’s mouth tightly shut is much older, and sealing up someone else’s lips dates from the late 1700s. This particular expression became current only in the early twentieth century. It was much repeated by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin when asked about the rumored abdication of King Edward VIII, who wished to (and eventually did) marry a divorced American, Wallis Simpson.
Related and Similar Terms
- 🕵️♂️ Mum’s the word – A caution to remain silent or keep a secret.
- 🤐 Button your lip – A suggestion to refrain from speaking or giving away secrets.
- 🤐 Keep it under your hat – Another directive to keep a piece of information confidential.
- 🤫 On the down-low – Conduct something secretly or discreetly.
Synonyms
- Silent promise
- Confidential assurance
- Secure secret
Antonyms
- Blabbermouth
- Leak
- Snitch
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I can keep a secret — it’s the people I tell it to that can’t.” – Anonymous
- “Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” – Benjamin Franklin
Proverbs
- “Walls have ears and doors have eyes.”
- “Silence is golden but duct tape is silver.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- 📚 “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne – A book on the power of secrets and the law of attraction.
- 🎤 “Secrets” by OneRepublic – A song emphasizing the weight of personal secrets.
- 🎥 “National Treasure” (2004) – A film centered around historic secrets and treasure hunting.
- 📖 “The Tale of Three Brothers” from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” by J.K. Rowling – A story that speaks volumes about secrets and the consequences of revealing or keeping them.
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell
Keeping a secret lives breathes life into the silent spaces of our conscience. The tales sealed behind quiet lips often narrate stories of trust, loyalty, and occasional wit. May your secrets be wisely kept and your confidences unbroken — for in the art of silence, much can be said.
### Which phrase means to keep silent about something?
- [x] Mum’s the word
- [ ] Break a leg
- [ ] Elephant in the room
- [ ] Head in the clouds
> **Explanation:** "Mum’s the word" is a classic phrase emphasizing the importance of keeping a secret or staying silent about something.
### Where did the expression 'lips are sealed' gain widespread recognition?
- [ ] Ancient Rome
- [x] During the rumored abdication of King Edward VIII
- [ ] At the signing of the Declaration of Independence
- [ ] During the French Revolution
> **Explanation:** The expression "lips are sealed" became widely recognized during Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's tenure when he repeatedly used it in reference to the abdication rumors surrounding King Edward VIII.
### What is an opposite expression of 'lips are sealed'?
- [ ] Mum’s the word
- [ ] Button your lip
- [x] Blabbermouth
- [ ] Keep it under your hat
> **Explanation:** "Blabbermouth" is someone who often speaks too freely, the very opposite of someone whose "lips are sealed".
### Which of these songs emphasizes the weight of personal secrets?
- [ ] Hey Jude
- [ ] Shake It Off
- [ ] Smells Like Teen Spirit
- [x] Secrets by OneRepublic
> **Explanation:** "Secrets" by OneRepublic discusses the burden and intensity associated with personal secrets.
### True or False: 'Walls have ears and doors have eyes' suggests that it’s easy to keep secrets.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** This proverb actually suggests the opposite — that it’s hard to keep secrets because someone might always be listening or watching.
