keep one's cards close to one's chest
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keep one's cards close to one's chest
Where it comes from
The figurative sense is a self-evident extension from the literal sense.
verb keeps one's cards close to one's chest · keeping one's cards close to one's chest · kept one's cards close to one's chest
-
To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.
Balthus has always kept his cards close to his chest. When I asked him if Summertime was a transcription of Poussin's Echo and Narcissus—a variant of his lost copy—he did not reply.
Similar: keep one's counsel, chest one's cards
- To hold one's hand close to one's chest so that other players cannot see the cards.
Similar: chest one's cards, hold one's cards close to one's chest, play one's cards close to one's chest, keep one's cards close to one's vest, hold one's cards close to one's vest, play one's cards close to one's vest
Thesaurus
Translations
Every language
verb Translations
| Español | no soltar prenda |
|---|---|
| Français | cacher son jeu |
| Deutsch | sich nicht in die Karten schauen lassen |
Talk about this word "keep one's cards close to one's chest." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/keep%20one's%20cards%20close%20to%20one's%20chest. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. keep one's cards close to one's chest. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/keep%20one's%20cards%20close%20to%20one's%20chest "keep one's cards close to one's chest." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/keep%20one's%20cards%20close%20to%20one's%20chest.Cite this
@misc{keep_one_s_cards_close_to_one_s_chest_2026,
title = {keep one's cards close to one's chest},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/keep%20one's%20cards%20close%20to%20one's%20chest},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
