heavy silence

heavy silence

A very tense, awkward, or uncomfortable silence among a group of people. There was a heavy silence at the table after Dad's outburst at Mom. I tried to break the heavy silence with a joke, but no one was in the mood for laughing.
See also: heavy, silence
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a heavy ˈsilence/ˈatmosphere

a situation when people do not say anything, but feel embarrassed or uncomfortable: There was a heavy silence for a few minutes before anybody spoke.
See also: atmosphere, heavy, silence
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a heavy silence/atmosphere
  • heavy atmosphere
  • speech is silver, but silence is golden
  • speech is silver, silence is gold
  • speech is silver, silence is golden
  • says it all
  • beat (someone or something) into (something)
  • beat into
  • breathe a word
  • break the silence
References in classic literature
There reigns a heavy silence; gaunt weeds through windows pry, And down the streets of Liang old echoes, wailing, die.
However, about seven o'clock, the heavy silence was dissipated.
Then night fell in the midst of a heavy silence, sometimes broken by the cries of the pelican and other night-birds, and the noise of the waves breaking upon the shore, chafing against the rocks, or the panting of some far-off steamer beating the waters of the Gulf with its noisy paddles.
In the station yard, after the evening train had gone, there was a heavy silence. Perhaps Skinner Leason, the express agent, moved a truck the length of the station plat- form.
There was a heavy silence, and at last Harold March said, "But where is the real relic?"
Not another sound broke the heavy silence of the windless night.
Therefore, the Italian boy would not be discouraged by the heavy silence with which the old house seemed resolute to clog the vivacity of his instrument.
The perpetual tramp of boot-heels on the decks gave place to a heavy silence, and the whole human freight was stowed away below, excepting a very few stragglers, like myself, who were probably, like me, afraid to go there.
"You say 'they,'" I said gently, as he stood in heavy silence, his back still turned.
A heavy silence sank and endured, and at the end of it came again that trivial and terrible knocking.
A heavy silence descended on the room for a while, then Khawaja Sahib resumed, 'I have gone to Russia many times under three capacities: as Minister for Defence, as Minister for Water and Power, and lastly as a Foreign Minister.
Pauline later told investigative journalist Terry Rawlings it was not until around midnight, three hours later, that the heavy silence was shattered again when the police finally, inexplicably late, arrived.
Unlike previously when there would be a lot of heckling and joking in these meetings, a heavy silence fell upon the room.
I distinctly remember the heavy silence that descended upon us as my senses swam in the fragrance of burning candles, incense and so much else that was pleasant but none that my curious mind could distinctly decipher.
A heavy silence hung in the air for a few moments this morning when Leaver Andrew Bridgen was asked if he could quit the party.