won’t breathe a word of it

ovecka

Posted: 19 March 2009 02:31 AM

[ Ignore ]

Newbie

Total Posts: 28

Joined 2009-01-13

Hi,
can I say this idiom in the past tense: I didn’t breathe a word of it.???
Can you also propose me another idiom with the same meaning??
thank you much

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LukeJavan8

Posted: 19 March 2009 08:50 AM

[ Ignore ] [ # 1 ]

Sr. Member

Total Posts: 10297

Joined 2008-04-02

Past tense: sounds OK to me.
Another Idiom: “mum’s the word”.

perhaps another: “my lips are sealed”.

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ovecka

Posted: 19 March 2009 09:26 AM

[ Ignore ] [ # 2 ]

Newbie

Total Posts: 28

Joined 2009-01-13

Thank you,
I need something more literary…I’m translating a fairy tale. I think I’ll stay with my idiom so far.

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bandito

Posted: 19 March 2009 10:21 AM

[ Ignore ] [ # 3 ]

Sr. Member

Total Posts: 909

Joined 2004-10-31

“I didn’t breathe a word of it” sounds just fine but the future tense alternative “I won’t breathe a word of it” perhaps much better! Yet another popular choice: “All talk of it was extremely hush hush.”

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1. הכל הבל׃ hakkōl hâvel Qohelet 1:2 “all (is) vanity” KJV loc. cit.
2. [οἱ] ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι [Textus Receptus] Mark 10:31 novissimi primi Vulg. “last (shall be) first” ibid.
3. ’Tis the path you take in life that’s more important! Sufi wisdom