under lock and key

Meaning: Securely locked away.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “The family recipes are kept under lock and key.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: A plain pairing of the lock and the key that opens it, found in English from the Middle Ages.

Equivalents in other languages

the truth will out — The truth cannot stay hidden forever.
above board — Honest and open, with nothing hidden.
stake a claim — To declare that something is yours, or that you have a right to it.
raze to the ground — To destroy a building or town completely.
dig one's own grave — To cause one's own downfall.
come in handy — To be useful when needed.

all in one's head — Imagined rather than real, or a matter of attitude.
stink to high heaven — To smell terrible; also, to seem very dishonest.
on a silver platter — Given to someone without any effort on their part.
dig one's heels in — To refuse stubbornly to change one's mind.
the scales fall from one's eyes — To suddenly see the truth after being deceived.
feet of clay — A hidden weakness in someone or something admired.

Du hast Köpfchen — You're sharp and clever — you use your brain well.
Du bist klasse — You're brilliant — excellent, impressive, top-notch.
気が利く (ki ga kiku) — You're perceptive and considerately thoughtful — you notice what people need before they…