Pipe down

Meaning

The idiom "pipe down" means to be quiet or stop talking. It is a command or request for someone to cease speaking or making noise, often used to express frustration or annoyance. The figurative meaning of this idiom implies that the speaker should suppress their voice and not disturb others.

Usage

• "I told you to pipe down, John! We're trying to watch a movie here."
• "Can you pipe down with all the loud music? I'm trying to study."
• "The baby was crying so loudly that I had to pipe down and talk quietly."
• "I piped down after my boss told me to be more professional in my communication style."
• "Can you pipe down, Mike? I need to concentrate on my work."

Roots and History

The idiom "pipe down" is believed to have originated from the 19th century practice of blowing through a pipe or flute to signal the end of a performance. This act of blowing through the pipe would be referred to as "piping down". The idiom gradually evolved over time to mean silencing someone's voice, and its usage became more common in contemporary language.

Synonyms in English

• "Be quiet"
• "Stop talking"
• "Silence yourself"
• "Shut up"
• "Hush"

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Calla en boca" (translates to "close your mouth")
• French: "Taisez-vous" (literally means "shut up")
• German: "Stumm sein" (translates to "to be quiet")
• Italian: "Silenzio" (translates to "silence")
• Dutch: "Stil zijn" (translates to "to be silent")

Similar Idioms

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• prick up ears

• put a sock in it