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Keep Something under Your Hat

To hold off disclosing something, not to reveal something secret

Etymology:

  • This phrase is thought to have originated from 19th century when it was customary and quite in fashion to wear hats unlike today. When you wear hat, your head lies under it, so if someone shares a certain thing or news with you and asks you to keep it under your hat means to keep it in your mind as a secret and do not disclose it to anyone else.
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I would not share my good news with Jane as she cannot keep anything under her hat.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Keep Something under Your Hat

keep the ball rollingkeep someone companykeep straightkeep tabs onkeep timekeep to oneselfKeep the Wolf from the Doorkeep the wolf from the doorkeep somebody in stitcheskeep someone on icekeep the wolf from the doorkeep somebody postedkeep someone on a leashkeep pace

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    "Keep Something under Your Hat." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/keep-something-under-your-hat_44799>.

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