quiet as a mouse
(as) quiet as a mouse
Silent, meek, and gentle. I just can't believe that Kate actually yelled at Mike—she's usually as quiet as a mouse! We remained as quiet as mice to avoid being detected by the guards.
See also: mouse, quiet
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
quiet as a mouse
Also, still as a mouse. Silent, without noise, as in She sneaked into the house, quiet as a mouse, or When he heard the news he was still as a mouse. The first of these similes dates from the mid-1500s, the second from the 1300s.
See also: mouse, quiet
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
quiet as a mouse
If someone is quiet as a mouse, they are very quiet or silent. During the day Mom was quiet as a mouse. She hardly said or did anything. We were quiet as mice, hiding in there.
See also: mouse, quiet
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
quiet as a mouse (or lamb)
(of a person or animal) extremely quiet or docile. 1982 Robertson Davies The Rebel Angels I shall be as quiet as a mouse. I'll just tuck my box…in this corner, right out of your way.
See also: mouse, quiet
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
(as) quiet as a ˈmouse
(of a person) saying very little or making very little noise: He’s quiet as a mouse in class. Be as quiet as a mouse when you go upstairs — the baby’s asleep in our bedroom.See also: mouse, quiet
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
quiet as a mouse
Hushed, subdued. This simile dates from the sixteenth century and presumably refers to the behavior of a mouse that stops dead in its tracks at the approach of a cat and remains as quiet as possible, hoping to avoid notice. Also put as still as a mouse, it has been repeated again and again, outliving the still older (fourteenth century) quiet as a lamb.
See also: mouse, quiet
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (as) quiet as a mouse
- quiet as a mouse and *quiet as the grave
- (as) quiet as a lamb
- quiet as a lamb
- be (as) quiet as a mouse
- grave
- quiet
- so quiet you could hear a pin drop
- be quiet
- Be quiet!