keep quiet

keep quiet idiom
    Also, keep still.
  1. Also, be quiet or still. Remain silent; same as hold one's tongue. For example, Please keep quiet about the party. Also see keep one's mouth shut.
  2. Refrain from moving, stay in the same position; same as hold still. For example, The doctor gave the young boy a toy to keep him quiet while on the examining table, or It's hard for the baby to keep still unless he's sleeping. [Late 1300s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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