Jack Millett
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Ah, sir – a distinct universe walks about under your hat and under mine. The extended phrase ‘keep it under your hat’, which didn’t arise until the 20th century, simply meant ‘keep it in your head’, that is, ‘think it, but don’t say it’.
under (one's) hat. In confidence; as a secret; without being disclosed to others. Keep this under your hat for now, but Greg is definitely the one getting the promotion. As long as it stays under his hat, I don't mind giving John some insider tips.
To preserve secrecy. This term, with its vivid image of hiding a secret under headgear, dates from the late nineteenth century and has remained current even though hats are worn much less frequently today. A popular song of the 1920s had it: “Keep it under your hat! You must agree to do that.
- I take my hat off to … You do not need to be wearing a hat to use this idiom. And if you do wear a hat you do not need to take your hat off to use this idiom.
- Be wearing your [teachers’/lawyers’/doctor’s] hat. You know that I wear different hats. These are real hats. But I also wear hats that are not real. Everyone does.
- Hang up your hat. This idiom is about leaving your job. So when you retire from a job you ‘hang up your hat’. Example: Worker 1: ‘Why did she leave her job?’
- I’ll eat my hat. If you use this phrase you are saying that you will be very surprised if something does (or does not) happen. Example: ‘Do you expect your student to pass his math exam?’
What does the idiom 'Keep It Under Your Hat' mean? With a clear, concise definition and usage examples, discover this idiom's meaning and usage in the English language. Explore with us today!
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.
Meaning. If someone tells you a secret and you keep it under your hat, you don't tell anyone. For example. I'll only tell you if you promise to keep it under your hat. Aunt Biddy said she couldn't possibly tell me the family secrets because she'd pledged on her mother's grave to keep them under her hat.
