silent (redirected from silentness)

*silent as the dead and *silent as the grave

completely silent. (Has ominous connotations because of the reference to death. Usually used to promise someone that you will be silent and therefore not betray a secret. *Also: as ~.) I knew something was wrong as soon as I entered the classroom; everyone was silent as the dead. Jessica is as silent as the grave on the subject of her first marriage. If you tell me what Katy said about me, I promise to be as silent as the grave.

See also: dead

the strong, silent type

a strong, quiet man. Clark looks like the strong, silent type. Actually he is slightly deaf and that's fat, not muscle.

See also: type

---

be as silent as the grave  (literary)

to be completely silent It was four o'clock in the morning and London was as silent as the grave.

See also: grave

sleeping partner  (British) also silent partner (American & Australian)

someone who is closely involved with a company, and often provides money for it, but is not a manager of it He was an extremely wealthy man, and she was hoping he might become a sleeping partner in their new vineyards.

See also: partner, sleep

the silent majority

the large numbers of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly What does the silent majority expect from a new Labour government?

See sleeping partner