hide one's light under a bushel
English
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hide one's light under a bushel
- /ˌhaɪd wʌnz ˈlaɪt ˌʌndɚ‿ə ˈbʊʃl̩/ UK
- /ˌhaɪd wʌnz ˈlaɪt ˌʌndɚ‿ə ˈbʊʃ(ə)l/ US
Rhymes with -ʊʃəl
Where it comes from
Originally a reference to one of Jesus Christ’s parables recorded in Matthew 5:14–15, Mark 4:21–25, and Luke 8:16–18 of the Bible. For example, in the King James Version the passage from Matthew states (spelling modernized): “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill, cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel: but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” The parable uses the imagery of a candle hidden under an overturned bushel (“a dry-measure vessel with a capacity of eight gallons”), and is interpreted as a call to Christians to set a good example through their actions that other people may come to believe in the faith.
verb hides one's light under a bushel · hiding one's light under a bushel · hid one's light under a bushel · hidden one's light under a bushel
- To conceal one's positive qualities or talents, especially due to modesty or shyness; to avoid attention. O then doe not knit vp your Maſters talent in a Napkin; ſmother not his light vnder a buſhell; […] but aboue all, ſquander not avvay your rich portions by riotous living.
Translations
Every language
verb to conceal one’s positive qualities or talents
| 中文 | 深藏不露 shēncángbùlòu |
|---|---|
| Français | dissimuler son talent, faire preuve de modestie, mettre son talent sous le boisseau |
| Deutsch | sein Licht unter den Scheffel stellen |
| Русский | зарыва́ть свой тала́нт в зе́млю zaryvátʹ svoj talánt v zémlju, зары́ть свой тала́нт в зе́млю zarýtʹ svoj talánt v zémlju |
Talk about this word "hide one's light under a bushel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/hide%20one's%20light%20under%20a%20bushel. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. hide one's light under a bushel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/hide%20one's%20light%20under%20a%20bushel "hide one's light under a bushel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/hide%20one's%20light%20under%20a%20bushel.Cite this
@misc{hide_one_s_light_under_a_bushel_2026,
title = {hide one's light under a bushel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/hide%20one's%20light%20under%20a%20bushel},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
