keep it under one's hat — to keep information secret; to not tell others about something confidential
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to keep information secret; to not tell others about something confidential
Pronunciation (IPA): /kiːp ɪt ˈʌndər wʌnz hæt/
Example Sentences
- I heard the boss is planning surprise bonuses, but keep it under your hat!
- My neighbor's dog can actually talk, but please keep it under your hat - I don't want the media here.
- The celebrity will be dining at our restaurant tonight, so keep it under your hat until after she leaves.
keep it under one's hat
VERB[/kiːp ɪt ˈʌndər wʌnz hæt/]
to keep information secret; to not tell others about something confidential
She told her friend to keep it under his hat about the surprise party.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase originated in 19th-century America from the practice of hiding secret letters and important documents inside one's hat. Gentlemen of that era wore hats constantly, and the interior of a hat was considered a personal, private space, making it a metaphorical location for safeguarding confidential information.
Breakdown
keep (retain, hold) + under one's hat (beneath/inside the hat as a metaphorical space for secrets). The phrase evolved from literal hat-storage practices into an idiomatic expression meaning to keep something secret or confidential.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I heard the boss is planning surprise bonuses, but keep it under your hat!”
“My neighbor's dog can actually talk, but please keep it under your hat - I don't want the media here.”
“The celebrity will be dining at our restaurant tonight, so keep it under your hat until after she leaves.”
“I discovered that my math teacher is secretly a professional magician, but I'll keep it under my hat.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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