IdiomBody & SensesPolish

trzymać buzię na kłódkę

Meaning: To keep silent and not reveal a secret.

Literally: To hold one's mouth on a padlock

Example: “O prezencie trzymaj buzię na kłódkę.” — About the present: mum's the word.

English equivalent: Mum's the word

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Origin: Buzia is a child's word for the mouth, and a mouth on a padlock is locked shut. Trzymać buzię na kłódkę means keeping quiet, especially about a secret; the blunter form is gębę na kłódkę. No particular story lies behind it.

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