keep schtum

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keep schtum

To remain silent; to not say anything. (Used especially when by saying something, especially at the wrong time, one would cause trouble or difficulty for him- or herself.) Primarily heard in UK. It's better to just keep schtum when the boss starts flinging accusations than risk further incensing him.
See also: keep, schtum

keep ˈschtum/ˈshtum

(British English, informal) say nothing: I think we’d better keep schtum about this money, don’t you? OPPOSITE: open your (big) mouth Shtum is a Yiddish word from the German stumm, meaning ‘silent’.
See also: keep, schtum, shtum
References in periodicals archive ?
My advice to Mr Blair is to keep shtoom lest people think he's a bitter former Prime Minister.
To the Point; your letters
Now, Luke doesn't appear to have got the message that says his job is to lay us all a couple of points over the odds and keep shtoom, so he's wading into Nevvo.
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He bowls in to Dalton's office and demands pounds 20,000 to keep shtoom about Jack's part in Tony's original crime.
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If she either puts off having sex until it's legally allowed or makes sure she's both sober and protected, you'll keep shtoom. Make sure she knows you mean it and that there must be no more accidents.
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Quite what he has planned for Sunday remains a mystery - he and his staff have signed an agreement to keep shtoom on the matter - but yellow roses may well feature as lovestruck David has been sending a single one to Victoria every day since they met.
A Bit of a Posh Do; David Beckham and Victoria Adams spared no expense on Sunday's wedding ... but what are they getting for their pounds 500,000?
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