Sometimes we don’t want to talk a lot. We like it when everything is calm and quiet. People use fun phrases to talk about being quiet. These special phrases are called idioms. They don’t always mean exactly what the words say. But many people understand them because they hear them often.
In this article, you will learn about idioms for quiet. They help us talk about quiet times in smart and simple ways. These idioms will show how quiet can feel, sound, or even look. When you learn them, you can use them when you write or talk. It makes your words more fun and easy to understand.
Idioms for Quiet
1. Quiet as a mouse
Meaning: Very quiet
To Provide an Example: She walked into the room as quiet as a mouse. / He waited for the teacher as quiet as a mouse.
Alternative Meaning: Not making any sound / Staying very still
2. Keep it down
Meaning: Talk more quietly
To Provide an Example: Mom said, “Keep it down!” during the movie. / We had to keep it down in the library.
Alternative Meaning: Lower your voice / Don’t be loud
3. Zip your lips
Meaning: Don’t talk
To Provide an Example: The teacher told us to zip our lips during reading time. / He zipped his lips when the baby was sleeping.
Alternative Meaning: Be silent / Keep quiet
4. Hush-hush
Meaning: Very secret or quiet
To Provide an Example: They had a hush-hush talk about the surprise party. / It was a hush-hush meeting in class.
Alternative Meaning: Whispered / Kept very quiet
5. Button your lip
Meaning: Stop talking
To Provide an Example: Dad told me to button my lip during the show. / She buttoned her lip when the teacher walked in.
Alternative Meaning: Stay silent / Keep it to yourself
6. Keep it under your hat
Meaning: Don’t tell anyone
To Provide an Example: Keep it under your hat about the gift. / She kept it under her hat until her friend arrived.
Alternative Meaning: Keep quiet about something / Keep it secret
7. Not a peep
Meaning: No sound at all
To Provide an Example: I didn’t hear a peep from the baby all night. / Not a peep was heard during the test.
Alternative Meaning: Completely silent / No talking or noise
8. Put a sock in it
Meaning: Stop talking
To Provide an Example: He told his brother to put a sock in it during the movie. / Put a sock in it, we’re trying to sleep!
Alternative Meaning: Be quiet / No more noise
9. Keep quiet
Meaning: Stay silent
To Provide an Example: Please keep quiet in the library. / We had to keep quiet while waiting.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t talk / Be still and silent
10. Don’t breathe a word
Meaning: Don’t tell anyone
To Provide an Example: Don’t breathe a word about the secret plan. / He didn’t breathe a word to his sister.
Alternative Meaning: Keep it to yourself / Stay quiet
11. Dead silence
Meaning: Total silence
To Provide an Example: There was dead silence after the lights went out. / The room was in dead silence during the test.
Alternative Meaning: Very quiet / No sound at all
12. Cat got your tongue
Meaning: Too quiet, not talking
To Provide an Example: You’re so quiet—cat got your tongue? / When asked a question, he stayed quiet like the cat got his tongue.
Alternative Meaning: Not speaking / Unsure what to say
13. Hold your tongue
Meaning: Keep quiet even if you want to speak
To Provide an Example: I had to hold my tongue during the game. / She held her tongue and didn’t shout back.
Alternative Meaning: Stay silent / Don’t talk back
14. Bite your tongue
Meaning: Don’t say what you are thinking
To Provide an Example: He bit his tongue when he heard the wrong answer. / She bit her tongue instead of laughing.
Alternative Meaning: Keep your thoughts inside / Stay polite
15. Mum’s the word
Meaning: Don’t talk about it
To Provide an Example: Mum’s the word about the birthday surprise. / They nodded and said, “Mum’s the word!”
Alternative Meaning: Don’t tell anyone / Keep it secret
16. Under wraps
Meaning: Kept secret or quiet
To Provide an Example: The new game was kept under wraps. / The teacher kept the surprise under wraps.
Alternative Meaning: Hidden / Not shared out loud
17. Whisper sweet nothings
Meaning: Say soft, kind words
To Provide an Example: Grandma whispered sweet nothings before bed. / He whispered sweet nothings to the dog.
Alternative Meaning: Soft, loving words / Gentle talk
18. In a whisper
Meaning: Talking very softly
To Provide an Example: We spoke in a whisper during storytime. / She gave the answer in a whisper.
Alternative Meaning: Very quiet voice / Soft talking
19. Not say a word
Meaning: Stay completely silent
To Provide an Example: He didn’t say a word about the joke. / I didn’t say a word when I saw the gift.
Alternative Meaning: Totally quiet / No talking at all
20. Low voice
Meaning: Speaking quietly
To Provide an Example: She used a low voice during nap time. / The coach spoke in a low voice during the game.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet speaking / Not loud
21. Soft-spoken
Meaning: Talks in a quiet voice
To Provide an Example: My teacher is soft-spoken. / She is soft-spoken, but everyone listens.
Alternative Meaning: Speaks gently / Not loud
22. Speak softly
Meaning: Talk in a quiet way
To Provide an Example: We had to speak softly in the museum. / He spoke softly so he didn’t wake the baby.
Alternative Meaning: Talk gently / Quiet voice
23. Whisper thin
Meaning: Very soft or small sound
To Provide an Example: Her voice was whisper thin in the big room. / The music played whisper thin in the background.
Alternative Meaning: Barely heard / Very light
24. Quiet down
Meaning: Be less noisy
To Provide an Example: The teacher said, “Quiet down, please.” / We had to quiet down before lunch.
Alternative Meaning: Lower your voices / Be calm
25. Inside voice
Meaning: Use a quiet voice indoors
To Provide an Example: Use your inside voice at the table. / We learned about using our inside voices in class.
Alternative Meaning: Not yelling / Gentle talking
26. Keep it hush-hush
Meaning: Keep something secret and quiet
To Provide an Example: Keep the party plans hush-hush. / It’s a hush-hush surprise for Dad.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t share it / Talk quietly
27. Quiet as the grave
Meaning: Very, very quiet
To Provide an Example: The house was quiet as the grave at night. / It was quiet as the grave after the story ended.
Alternative Meaning: No sound at all / Still and silent
28. Talk in hushed tones
Meaning: Talk in a quiet, soft voice
To Provide an Example: We talked in hushed tones at the library. / They used hushed tones before the show started.
Alternative Meaning: Very softly / Whisper-like
29. Silent as snow
Meaning: Very quiet and soft
To Provide an Example: She moved silent as snow across the room. / The snow fell silent as snow on the lawn.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet and smooth / No noise
30. Whisper like the wind
Meaning: A voice that sounds soft like the wind
To Provide an Example: Her words were soft, whisper like the wind. / He spoke whisper like the wind to calm the baby.
Alternative Meaning: Very gentle sound / Almost silent
31. As still as a statue
Meaning: Not moving or making a sound
To Provide an Example: He stood as still as a statue when hiding. / She was as still as a statue during freeze dance.
Alternative Meaning: Not talking / No movement
32. Sound of silence
Meaning: A deep, calm quiet
To Provide an Example: The sound of silence was peaceful at night. / I liked the sound of silence after school.
Alternative Meaning: No noise / Calm and still
33. Drop a pin
Meaning: So quiet you could hear even a pin fall
To Provide an Example: It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. / We were silent—you could drop a pin!
Alternative Meaning: Totally silent / Very quiet moment
34. Speak in whispers
Meaning: Talk softly
To Provide an Example: We had to speak in whispers during nap time. / They spoke in whispers at the movie.
Alternative Meaning: Use soft voices / Very quiet talk
35. Library voice
Meaning: Use a quiet voice like in a library
To Provide an Example: Use your library voice in the hallway. / She reminded us to speak in library voices.
Alternative Meaning: Very soft talking / Calm tone
36. As quiet as night
Meaning: Peaceful and silent
To Provide an Example: The room was as quiet as night. / It felt quiet as night after the party.
Alternative Meaning: Still / Calm and quiet
37. Whisper behind hands
Meaning: Talk quietly and secretly
To Provide an Example: They whispered behind hands during lunch. / I saw them whisper behind hands about the gift.
Alternative Meaning: Secret quiet talk / Hidden talking
38. Calm as a cloud
Meaning: Very peaceful and still
To Provide an Example: He sat calm as a cloud during storytime. / She was calm as a cloud while waiting.
Alternative Meaning: Not loud / Gentle and peaceful
39. Noiseless as a shadow
Meaning: Very silent
To Provide an Example: He walked noiseless as a shadow across the floor. / She moved noiseless as a shadow past the door.
Alternative Meaning: Very quiet / No sound at all
40. Talk under your breath
Meaning: Speak so softly only you can hear
To Provide an Example: He talked under his breath when he was shy. / She talked under her breath during the game.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet speaking / Barely heard
41. As quiet as a whisper
Meaning: Very soft and quiet
To Provide an Example: Her voice was as quiet as a whisper. / The wind was as quiet as a whisper outside.
Alternative Meaning: Very still / Barely any sound
42. Silent treatment
Meaning: Not talking to someone
To Provide an Example: He gave me the silent treatment after our game. / She got the silent treatment for being mean.
Alternative Meaning: No talking / Staying quiet on purpose
43. Speak in low tones
Meaning: Talk in a quiet voice
To Provide an Example: We spoke in low tones during quiet time. / He answered in low tones at the doctor’s office.
Alternative Meaning: Soft voice / Not loud
44. Talk in a hush
Meaning: Speak very gently
To Provide an Example: She talked in a hush so the baby wouldn’t wake. / He gave the answer in a hush.
Alternative Meaning: Whisper-like / Quiet speaking
45. In total quiet
Meaning: In full silence
To Provide an Example: We read books in total quiet. / The class worked in total quiet during the test.
Alternative Meaning: No sound / Silent place
46. As still as the air
Meaning: Very calm and not moving
To Provide an Example: She was as still as the air during freeze dance. / The forest was as still as the air.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet and peaceful / Not moving
47. Without a sound
Meaning: No noise at all
To Provide an Example: He left the room without a sound. / She came in without a sound.
Alternative Meaning: Very quiet / Silent
48. Speak in secret
Meaning: Talk quietly so others don’t hear
To Provide an Example: They spoke in secret about the present. / We spoke in secret behind the couch.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet talk / Hidden words
49. Say nothing
Meaning: Stay completely silent
To Provide an Example: He said nothing when asked. / She said nothing and just smiled.
Alternative Meaning: Be totally quiet / No words at all
50. Soft as a feather
Meaning: Very gentle and quiet
To Provide an Example: His footsteps were soft as a feather. / She sang soft as a feather to the baby.
Alternative Meaning: Light and calm / Barely heard
Trials for Success: Idioms for Quiet
- During reading time, the class was as ________ as a mouse.
- Mom said, “________ your lips!” when we started to argue.
- We had to use our ________ voice in the library.
- He didn’t ________ a word about the surprise party.
- After the baby fell asleep, everyone was ________ as the grave.
- The room was so quiet you could hear a ________ drop.
- The teacher told us to ________ down before the show.
- Dad asked me to speak in a ________ so I didn’t wake my sister.
- Grandma talked ________ sweet nothings to the baby.
- My brother gave me the ________ treatment after we fought.
- We had to talk in ________ tones while waiting.
- I stayed ________ during the movie and didn’t say anything.
- She was as still as a ________ when playing hide and seek.
- They whispered behind ________ about the party.
- The dog moved soft as a ________ through the hallway.
Answer Key
- quiet
- zip
- inside
- breathe
- quiet
- pin
- quiet
- whisper
- whispered
- silent
- hushed
- quiet
- statue
- hands
- feather
Conclusion
Sometimes, we need things to be calm and still. Being quiet helps us listen, learn, and show respect. Idioms for quiet help us talk about these moments in a fun way. These little phrases can sound silly, but they tell us a lot.
Now that you know them, try using them in your day. Say someone is “quiet as a mouse” or “zip your lips” during quiet time. It makes speaking more fun and helps others understand you better. Keep learning and using these words each day.
