Keep it Under Your Hat – Meaning & Usage Examples

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in k

Let’s delve into the saying ‘keep it under your hat’ together, understanding its meaning, origins, and real-life examples.

Meaning of the Idiom

The idiom ‘keep it under your hat’ is used to advise someone to keep information or a secret to themselves and not share it with others. It conveys a sense of confidentiality and discretion, urging individuals to refrain from disclosing sensitive or private details to anyone else. The phrase implies a level of trust and responsibility, with the expectation that the specified person will honor their commitment to keeping the information confidential.

Origin of the Idiom

The origin of the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is uncertain, but it likely originated from the practice of concealing items or information by hiding them under one’s hat. In the past, hats were commonly worn as a form of headgear, providing a convenient hiding place for small objects or documents. The expression evolved to represent the act of keeping something hidden or secret, with the hat symbolizing a metaphorical barrier to prevent others from discovering the concealed information.

10 Idiom Examples in Everyday Situations

1. I’m about to tell you something important, but you have to promise to keep it under your hat.

2. She trusted her best friend to keep her plans under her hat until she was ready to reveal them to everyone.

3. Before I share this information with you, I need to know that you’ll keep it under your hat and not tell anyone else.

4. He’s the kind of person you can trust to keep a secret under his hat, no matter what.

5. I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep it under your hat until I give you the green light to share.

6. It’s important to keep certain things under your hat to maintain trust and confidentiality in relationships.

7. I overheard something juicy, but I promised to keep it under my hat and not spread gossip.

8. She’s good at keeping secrets under her hat, so you can trust her not to spill the beans.

9. I appreciate you keeping that under your hat; it shows that you’re a reliable and trustworthy friend.

10. Before I share this with you, I need to emphasize the importance of keeping it under your hat until the time is right.

10 Quotes Featuring the Idiom

1. “The phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ serves as a reminder that trust is built on the foundation of confidentiality and discretion.” – Unknown

2. “When entrusted with sensitive information, remember that the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is a reminder to honor the trust placed in you.” – Unknown

3. “The phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ serves as a reminder that discretion is essential for maintaining trust and confidentiality in relationships.” – Unknown

4. “When it comes to keeping secrets, remember that the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is a reminder to exercise discretion and restraint.” – Unknown

5. “The phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ serves as a reminder that trust is earned through the demonstration of integrity and confidentiality.” – Unknown

6. “When entrusted with confidential information, remember that the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is a reminder to maintain discretion and confidentiality.” – Unknown

7. “The phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ serves as a reminder that respecting someone’s privacy and confidentiality is essential for building trust and mutual respect.” – Unknown

8. “When entrusted with confidential information, remember that the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is a reminder to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.” – Unknown

9. “The phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ serves as a reminder that confidentiality is essential for preserving trust and fostering strong relationships.” – Unknown

10. “When entrusted with sensitive information, remember that the phrase ‘keep it under your hat’ is a reminder to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.” – Unknown

Idioms Starting From Letter K

Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter K. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘K’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the K-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter K.