IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishunder lock and key
Meaning: Securely locked away.
Example: “The family recipes are kept under lock and key.”
Origin: A plain pairing of the lock and the key that opens it, found in English from the Middle Ages.
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: achter slot en grendel Literally: Behind lock and bolt
More English idioms
- 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.
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