lips are sealed
(one's) lips are sealed
One will not tell anyone; one will keep this a secret. Most often used in the expression "my lips are sealed." A: "Please don't tell anyone about this, I'm so embarrassed." B: "My lips are sealed." I told him not to say anything, and he said his lips are sealed, so hopefully he'll be able to keep a secret this time.
See also: lip, seal
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
(one's) lips are sealed
Used to indicate that one will not disclose a piece of information.
See also: lip, seal
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
lips are sealed, his/my
He/I will keep this secret. Although 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. See also mum's the word.
See also: lip
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (one's) lips are sealed
- lips are sealed, one's
- someone's lips are sealed
- your lips are sealed
- my lips are sealed
- lips are sealed, his/my
- (someone's) secret is safe with (one)
- don't tell a soul
- not tell a soul
- (just) between you and me