keep quiet

keep quiet

1. To be quiet; to not make any noise. Often used as an imperative. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is sometimes used between "keep" and "quiet." Please keep quiet during the movie, kids. People are trying to listen. The only way I can keep my dog quiet when the mailman comes around is to give him a treat.
2. To force someone to stay silent or not divulge information. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is often used between "keep" and "quiet." They offered me a ton of money to keep me quiet, but I'm still going to testify.
See also: keep, quiet

keep quiet (about something)

To refrain from divulging any information about something. They offered me a ton of money to keep quiet, but I'm still going to testify at the trial. We all agreed to keep quiet about what we found that day.
See also: keep, quiet
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep something quiet

 and keep something still
Fig. to keep something a secret. I'm quitting my job, but my boss doesn't know yet. Please keep it quiet. Okay. I'll keep it still
See also: keep, quiet

keep quiet (about someone or something)

 and keep still (about someone or something)
to refrain from talking about someone or something; to keep a secret about someone or something. Please keep quiet about the missing money. Please keep still about it. All right. I'll keep still.
See also: keep, quiet
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

keep quiet

Also, keep still.
1. Also, be quiet or still . Remain silent; same as hold one's tongue. For example, Please keep quiet about the party. Also see keep one's mouth shut.
2. Refrain from moving, stay in the same position; same as hold still. For example, The doctor gave the young boy a toy to keep him quiet while on the examining table, or It's hard for the baby to keep still unless he's sleeping. [Late 1300s]
See also: keep, quiet
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • keep quiet (about something)
  • hush someone up
  • hush something up
  • hush up
  • be quiet
  • Be quiet!
  • quiet
  • so quiet you could hear a pin drop
  • button (one's) lip
  • button your lip
References in periodicals archive
And with such reasons, we keep quiet while unwanted and undesirable events take place around us, at work, in our family and in the place we live.
Silence Isn't Always Golden..!
CAMILLE Holley should keep quiet or man up and take some responsibility for Ryan's predicament.
JOIN THE GREAT ONLINE DEBATE
A similar proportion conceal parking problems and keep quiet about nightmare neighbours.
People lie to sell homes; in association with fish4
It must be difficult to keep up with Ms Mountford's contradictory and frequently baffling statements, but Mr Leedham should learn the lesson that so many husbands have had to master: remember what your wife has said; if you can't remember, then keep quiet.
Letter: Mailbag - A lesson to learn
Pupils can get people to sponsor them for every minute they keep quiet, or they can simply pay a small amount to take part in the event.
WEB LIFE
We agreed to keep quiet and forget it ever happened.
your life: I slept with my brother-in-law; Ask Anna
But confess or keep quiet? It would be very difficult to explain away taking her bra and could make her think you're rather strange.
SEX DOCTOR: I nicked her bra
"Bishop Ramento was an energetic, passionate man of faith, never one to keep quiet on the injustices experienced by the people of the Philippines.
Colleagues suspect Filipino bishop's murder was politically motivated
The case is an object lesson in civics--the concept of a citizen who could not keep quiet when he felt his players were being shortchanged because of their gender.
In Alabama, a high school coach blows the whistle
Because the ransom is small, people tend to pay up and keep quiet. But British detectives advise against cooperating with the con artists because doing so may encourage them to come back for more.
Cyber extortion targets office workers
And keep quiet. Keep quiet until you forget speech.
Song of the Grass
When social studies teacher Elaine Kotler mentioned her opposition to the Iraqi war in her middle-school classroom, she was told to keep quiet. She didn't.
This week on Advocate.com. (On the Web)
"Kids often keep quiet for fear of being harassed even more if they report [an incident]," says Mike Domitz.
Sexual harassment: What it is, and what you can do to prevent it. (USA)
In July 1997, district officials ordered her to keep quiet about her lesbian lifestyle.
Lesbian teacher fights for right to teach. (Notebook: education information from schools, business, research and professional organizations)
* Lesson #2, keep quiet when situations arise Don't roil the waters.
A former employee remembers Joseph Schlang (1911-1999). (Profile of the Week)