Keep schtum

Meaning

The idiom "keep schtum" is used to tell someone to be quiet or to stop talking. It has a slightly harsh tone and is often used when the speaker wants someone to cease their chatter without being too confrontational. The literal meaning of the word "schtum" is "to shut up."

Usage

• "Mary was so loud in the library, I had to tell her to keep schtum."
• "During the movie, John kept schtum and didn't talk to his wife."
• "I told Sarah to keep schtum about the surprise party we planned for her friend's birthday."
• "The kids were running around and being loud, so I told them to keep schtum and sit down."
• "We needed to work quietly on the project, so I asked my colleagues to keep schtum."

Roots and History

The idiom "keep schtum" is believed to have originated from Yiddish, a Jewish language spoken in Eastern Europe. The word "schtum" comes from the Hebrew word "shut," which means "to stop talking." The use of this word in English dates back to the early 20th century and has since become a common idiom used in everyday conversation.

Synonyms in English

• Hold your tongue
• Say nothing
• Keep quiet
• Shut up
• Be silent

Synonyms in other languages

• In Spanish, "mantengas la boca cerrada" means "keep your mouth shut."
• In French, "le silence est d'or" means "silence is gold."
• In German, "schweig" means "to keep quiet."
• In Italian, "taci" means "be silent."
• In Japanese, "かんじょう" means "keep it quiet."

Similar Idioms

• kick the can down the road

• know on which side bread is buttered

• keep card close to chest