keep schtum

keep schtum

To remain silent; to not say anything. (Used especially when by saying something, especially at the wrong time, one would cause trouble or difficulty for him- or herself.) Primarily heard in UK. It's better to just keep schtum when the boss starts flinging accusations than risk further incensing him.
See also: keep, schtum
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep ˈschtum/ˈshtum

(British English, informal) say nothing: I think we’d better keep schtum about this money, don’t you? OPPOSITE: open your (big) mouth Shtum is a Yiddish word from the German stumm, meaning ‘silent’.
See also: keep, schtum, shtum
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • keep schtum/shtum
  • schtum
  • shtum
  • stum
  • stum [st?m]
  • keep stum
  • keep mum
  • a slanging match
  • fling (someone or something) around
  • fling around
References in periodicals archive
AN on-the-run convicted burglar wrote a message next to his own wanted poster on a police Facebook site warning friends to keep schtum regarding his whereabouts.
They've struggled to adapt to post-war life, and can't even use their amazing work at Bletchley Park to get jobs -- the Official Secrets Act forces them to keep schtum about what they did.
They've struggled to adapt to post-war life, and can't even use their amazing work at Bletchley Park to get jobs - the Official Secrets Act forces them to keep schtum about what they did.
Don't keep schtum Tom Arthur MSP with Charles Gore, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust
The men involved are all determined to keep schtum, but as they realise that could come at a cost, the trust between them looks set to fall apart.
The earth mothers who go around saying they simply love being pregnant need to keep schtum. If you weren't carrying precious cargo, why would you choose to walk around in permanent pain, groaning like an auld tank?
But they keep schtum and treat it as another investment opportunity.
If anything, though, this social site trawling might have an unintended benefit: it might cause humble braggers - people who post ostensibly self-deprecating statuses just to highlight their lavish lifestyles - keep schtum.
He said: "If you are privileged enough to work for the Royal family you keep schtum." He said the footage was totally irrelevant and totally out of context to what the Queen and the Queen Mother have stood for.
Although the actress's fans bombarded her with questions demanding to know the when's and why's of the picture, Zeina decided to keep schtum about it!
So Paul knows who pushed him, but he's decided to keep schtum and let the guilty party get away with it.
Attempting to discuss matters of state above the din of popular music is extremely difficult, while the low-wattage lighting appears designed more for the benefit of "apple-shaped" customers trying on the latest Diamante Ruch Bandeau Dress than ministers me to keep schtum or reading complex documents on grain yields.
At first it looked like Char and Gav were going to keep schtum, but the ex lovebirds are now straying into Katie and Peter territory, vying for public sympathy.
The couple, who have been dating for a year and a half, have preferred to keep schtum about their romance in the past.
Others may genuinely believe they've only been put there by a party leader to keep schtum and vote through any bill they've proposed.