This article presents a comprehensive guide to idioms that express secrecy. It divides these expressions into clear categories: phrases used to guard confidential information, those that reveal hidden details, humorous takes on discretion, and a curated selection of top idioms. Drawing on academic linguistic research and real-world language studies, the content defines each idiom with precise explanations and practical examples. The guide enhances understanding of how figurative language communicates trust and confidentiality in everyday conversations and professional settings.
Complete List of Idioms for Secrets
- Mum’s the word
- Button your lip
- Keep it under wraps
- Keep it on the down low
- Keep it close to your chest
- Seal it with silence
- Lock it away
- Stay mum
- Keep your cards close
- Zip your lip
- Spill the beans
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Come clean
- Sing like a canary
- Spill your guts
- Blurt out the secret
- Give away the secret
- Open the floodgates
- Break the silence
- Shoot your mouth off
- Quiet as a ninja in slippers
- Sealed like a zip-lock bag
- Hidden like a cookie jar in a toddler’s room
- Locked like a treasure chest at midnight
- Cloaked like a ninja in the night
- Silent as a cat burglar on a hot tin roof
- Hushed like a library of secrets
- Tighter than a drum on a tightrope
- Secret as a squirrel’s nut stash
- Zipped like a secret vault
- Fastened like a spy’s dossier
- Hidden like a penguin in a snowstorm
- Locked up like grandma’s cookie jar
- Secured like a phone without a signal
- Muffled like a secret in a soundproof room
- Camouflaged like a chameleon at a costume party
- Invisible like a rumor in a whisper
- Under the radar like a ninja in daylight
- Coded like a spy’s text message
- Hushed like a secret in a locked diary
- My lips are sealed
Idioms for Keeping Secrets
Mum’s the word
Meaning: This idiom means to keep a secret strictly.
Example: When questioned about the plan, he replied, “Mum’s the word.”
Button your lip
Meaning: This phrase instructs one to remain silent about confidential information.
Example: She told him to button his lip regarding the surprise event.
Keep it under wraps
Meaning: This idiom means to conceal information from others.
Example: They kept the new project details under wraps until the official announcement.
Keep it on the down low
Meaning: This expression means to keep information private and undisclosed.
Example: He maintained his promotion on the down low from his coworkers.
Keep it close to your chest
Meaning: This idiom means to withhold information and not share plans.
Example: She kept her business strategy close to her chest during the meeting.
Seal it with silence
Meaning: This phrase means to prevent any disclosure by remaining quiet.
Example: He sealed the agreement with silence, revealing no extra details.
Lock it away
Meaning: This idiom means to store confidential information securely.
Example: The committee locked away the sensitive documents in a secure vault.
Stay mum
Meaning: This expression means to remain silent about a secret.
Example: When asked about the incident, he chose to stay mum.
Keep your cards close
Meaning: This idiom means to avoid revealing one’s plans or secrets.
Example: The strategist kept her cards close during the negotiation.
Zip your lip
Meaning: This phrase means to stop talking and maintain secrecy.
Example: He warned his friend to zip his lip about the confidential matter.
Idioms for Revealing Secrets
Spill the beans
Meaning: This idiom means to reveal a secret unexpectedly.
Example: During the conversation, he spilled the beans about the upcoming event.
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: This expression means to disclose a secret unintentionally.
Example: She let the cat out of the bag when she mentioned the surprise wedding.
Come clean
Meaning: This phrase means to confess and reveal the truth.
Example: Under pressure, he came clean about the error in the report.
Sing like a canary
Meaning: This idiom means to divulge secrets freely, akin to telling secret details.
Example: The witness sang like a canary during the investigation.
Spill your guts
Meaning: This expression means to reveal all personal secrets openly.
Example: After a long discussion, he spilled his guts about his past experiences.
Blurt out the secret
Meaning: This idiom means to start telling secret information impulsively.
Example: Caught off guard, she blurted out the secret during the meeting.
Give away the secret
Meaning: This phrase means to disclose what was meant to remain hidden.
Example: He inadvertently gave away the secret by mentioning the hidden feature.
Open the floodgates
Meaning: This idiom means to begin revealing many secrets at once.
Example: Once she started talking, she opened the floodgates of her personal history.
Break the silence
Meaning: This expression means to reveal information after a period of secrecy.
Example: At the press conference, he broke the silence by sharing the details.
Shoot your mouth off
Meaning: This phrase means to reveal confidential information recklessly.
Example: He shot his mouth off and exposed the confidential strategy.
Funny Idioms for Secrets
Quiet as a ninja in slippers
Meaning: This idiom means being extremely quiet about secrets.
Example: During the discussion, he remained quiet as a ninja in slippers.
Sealed like a zip-lock bag
Meaning: This expression means a secret is kept securely, with no leakage.
Example: The announcement stayed sealed like a zip-lock bag until launch day.
Hidden like a cookie jar in a toddler’s room
Meaning: This idiom means a secret is well concealed in an unexpected place.
Example: Her birthday surprise remained hidden like a cookie jar in a toddler’s room.
Locked like a treasure chest at midnight
Meaning: This phrase means a secret is kept under strict security.
Example: The confidential files were locked like a treasure chest at midnight.
Cloaked like a ninja in the night
Meaning: This idiom means the secret is covered and remains unseen.
Example: His true intentions stayed cloaked like a ninja in the night.
Silent as a cat burglar on a hot tin roof
Meaning: This expression means someone remains extremely secretive.
Example: She was as silent as a cat burglar on a hot tin roof when questioned.
Hushed like a library of secrets
Meaning: This idiom means that information is kept very quiet.
Example: The boardroom discussion was hushed like a library of secrets.
Tighter than a drum on a tightrope
Meaning: This phrase means secrets are held very securely.
Example: Their internal plan remained tighter than a drum on a tightrope.
Secret as a squirrel’s nut stash
Meaning: This idiom means a secret is guarded closely.
Example: His new idea stayed secret as a squirrel’s nut stash.
Zipped like a secret vault
Meaning: This expression means no information escapes from its secure setting.
Example: The company’s strategy was zipped like a secret vault.
Fastened like a spy’s dossier
Meaning: This idiom means secrets are secured with utmost care.
Example: Her confidential notes were fastened like a spy’s dossier.
Hidden like a penguin in a snowstorm
Meaning: This phrase means a secret is almost impossible to spot.
Example: The minor error in the document stayed hidden like a penguin in a snowstorm.
Locked up like grandma’s cookie jar
Meaning: This idiom means secrets are kept away from prying eyes.
Example: Their plan was locked up like grandma’s cookie jar.
Secured like a phone without a signal
Meaning: This expression means a secret is unreachable and secure.
Example: His personal matters remain secured like a phone without a signal.
Muffled like a secret in a soundproof room
Meaning: This idiom means secrets are suppressed completely.
Example: Her revelation was muffled like a secret in a soundproof room.
Camouflaged like a chameleon at a costume party
Meaning: This phrase means a secret blends in and goes unnoticed.
Example: The truth was camouflaged like a chameleon at a costume party.
Invisible like a rumor in a whisper
Meaning: This idiom means a secret is hard to detect.
Example: The mistake remained invisible like a rumor in a whisper.
Under the radar like a ninja in daylight
Meaning: This expression means a secret stays undetected by others.
Example: Their meetings operated under the radar like a ninja in daylight.
Coded like a spy’s text message
Meaning: This idiom means a secret is hidden within complex language.
Example: His notes were coded like a spy’s text message.
Hushed like a secret in a locked diary
Meaning: This phrase means a secret is kept very quietly and securely.
Example: The scandal remained hushed like a secret in a locked diary.
Best Idioms for Secrets
Mum’s the word
Meaning: This idiom means to keep a secret without disclosing any details.
Example: In the face of probing questions, he simply stated, “Mum’s the word.”
Button your lip
Meaning: This phrase instructs someone to remain silent about confidential matters.
Example: She advised him to button his lip regarding the confidential plan.
Keep it under wraps
Meaning: This idiom means to conceal information until the proper time.
Example: The team kept their new strategy under wraps until the launch day.
Zip your lip
Meaning: This expression means to stop talking and maintain secrecy.
Example: He cautioned his colleague to zip his lip about the merger details.
Spill the beans
Meaning: This idiom means to reveal a secret that was meant to be hidden.
Example: At the party, he inadvertently spilled the beans about the surprise gift.
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: This phrase means to disclose a secret unintentionally.
Example: During the conversation, she let the cat out of the bag about the engagement.
Come clean
Meaning: This idiom means to confess and reveal the truth.
Example: After a long silence, he came clean about the error in his calculations.
Sing like a canary
Meaning: This expression means to divulge secrets without restraint.
Example: The interviewee sang like a canary when recounting the events.
Spill your guts
Meaning: This phrase means to share all personal secrets openly.
Example: During the heart-to-heart talk, he spilled his guts about past hardships.
My lips are sealed
Meaning: This idiom means that no secret will be disclosed under any circumstance.
Example: When pressed for details, she assured everyone, “My lips are sealed.”
What are idioms for secrets?
They are figurative expressions that convey ideas of confidentiality, discretion, or the act of revealing hidden information.
How are these idioms categorized?
The idioms divide into groups that focus on keeping secrets, revealing secrets, humorous expressions related to secrecy, and a curated list of the best idioms.
Why is understanding these idioms important?
They enrich everyday language by providing culturally nuanced ways to express trust and confidentiality, which can enhance both casual and formal communication.
Can these idioms be used in formal writing?
They serve best in creative and conversational contexts; careful selection is necessary when applying them in formal documents.
Where can I learn more about idioms and their usage?
Academic research, language studies, and courses from resources like Lit‑devices.com offer detailed insights into idiomatic expressions.