Tag Archives: silent

Idiom of the day

Button your lip

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Meaning: This idiom means to keep quiet or remain silent, especially when someone is being asked not to share information or to stop talking.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “You need to button your lip about the surprise party—we don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
  2. “When the secret meeting started, everyone was told to button their lips and listen.”
  3. “He was tempted to argue, but he decided to button his lip and avoid trouble.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “button your lip” comes from the imagery of fastening one’s mouth shut as if with a button, symbolizing the act of keeping silent. The phrase likely emerged in the early 20th century, during a time when phrases related to clothing, such as “zip it” or “keep it under your hat,” were also popularized to mean keeping something quiet. The idiom reflects the idea of physically closing your mouth to prevent words from escaping, thus keeping secrets or remaining silent when necessary.

Button your lip
Idiom of the day

Cat got your tongue?

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Meaning: This idiom is used to question someone’s unusual silence or lack of response in a situation where they are expected to speak or respond. It implies puzzlement or curiosity about why the person is remaining silent.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Cat’s got your tongue?”
  2. “After being asked a direct question by the teacher, Jack just sat there silently, as if the cat had got his tongue.”
  3. “She usually has plenty to say in meetings, but today it seems like the cat’s got her tongue.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “cat got your tongue” is uncertain, but it likely dates back several centuries. One theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from ancient Egypt, where liars’ tongues were believed to be fed to cats as punishment. Another theory suggests that the expression may have originated from medieval times when it was believed that witches could silence their victims by stealing their tongues and giving them to cats. Regardless of its origin, the idiom has become a common way to express surprise or confusion at someone’s silence.