keep one's counsel

keep one's counsel
a) To keep ones own business private; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning ones own thoughts, deeds, or situation.

As he held his mother to him, he longed to tell her all, but he kept his counsel.

b) To keep a secret for someone else; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning someone elses thoughts, deeds, or situation.

Khomeinis approach to decision making is to keep his counsel at first, allowing the advocates of different options to debate issues openly.

Syn: keep ones cards close to ones chest, keep ones mouth shut, keep ones own counsel

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • keep one's own counsel — {v. phr.}, {formal} To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. * /John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel./ * /Although everybody gave Mrs. O Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep one's own counsel — {v. phr.}, {formal} To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. * /John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel./ * /Although everybody gave Mrs. O Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep one's own counsel — ► keep one s own counsel not disclose one s plans or opinions. Main Entry: ↑counsel …   English terms dictionary

  • keep one's own counsel — keep one s ideas and plans to oneself He always keeps his own counsel and never really reveals his plans to anyone …   Idioms and examples

  • keep one's own counsel — verb To keep ones own business private; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning ones own thoughts, deeds, or situation. Who wills, may keep his own counsel be his own secrets sovereign. Syn: keep ones cards close to… …   Wiktionary

  • keep one's own counsel — idi keep one s own counsel, to remain silent …   From formal English to slang

  • keep one's mouth shut — verb To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether. He thought that he could get him a regular salary if he would come to Packingtown and do as he was told, and keep his mouth… …   Wiktionary

  • To keep one's own counsel — Counsel Coun sel (koun s[e^]l), n. [OE. conseil, F. conseil, fr. L. consilium, fr. the root of consulere to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf. {Consult}, {Consul}.] 1. Interchange of opinions; mutual advising; consultation. [1913 Webster] All the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To keep one's hand in — Keep Keep (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep\ one's\ own\ counsel — v. phr. formal To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel. Although everybody gave Mrs. O Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept her own… …   Словарь американских идиом

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