One idea · 3 languages

“Hold one's tongue”in other languages

Keep quiet.

  • English
  • Italian
  • Polish
Behind the words

Same idea, different pictures

All three treat the tongue as something that wants to run off. English holds it; Chaucer already used the phrase. Italian keeps it on a bridle, tenere a freno la lingua, and Polish keeps it behind the teeth, trzymać język za zębami.

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