keep one's own counsel



keep one's own counsel

Say little or nothing about one's opinions or intentions. For example, Betty is notorious for keeping her own counsel; you never know what she really thinks. This expression employs counsel in the sense of "a secret," a usage dating from about 1300.
See also: counsel, keep, own

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Poseidonpə-SIE-dən (English)Greek Mythology
Robbie['rɔbi]
Torill-Norwegian
Bourgeois['buəʒwa:]
PipraPEE-prahEsperanto
RadomiŁArah-daw-MEE-wahPolish