What is the meaning of the phrase to keep mum?

What is the meaning of the phrase to keep mum?

informal. : to not tell anyone (about something) She told him to keep/stay mum about the project.

What does keep mum mean in texting?

Definition of ‘keep mum/stay mum’ If you keep mum or stay mum about something, you do not tell anyone about it. [informal] He is keeping mum about his feelings on the matter. [

What was meant by the slogan keep mum she’s not so dumb?

This World War II poster urges British officers and other servicemen to”keep mum” (quiet), lest military secrets and other sensitive information fall into the hands of the enemy as a result of careless talk, in this case overheard by a beautiful female spy.

What is a kept man mean?

: a man who is kept as a lover by someone.

Is mum a real word?

When to Use Mum Mum can be a noun or an adjective. As an adjective, mum is a synonym of silent, like in the phrase mum’s the word. It is also an alternative spelling of mom, where it means mother. Mom is more common in American English, while mum is more common in British English.

Where does the saying keeping mum come from?

Meaning. “Mum’s the word” means to keep silent or quiet. Mum is a Middle English word meaning ‘silent’, and may be derived from the mummer who acts without speaking.

What techniques were used in World War II propaganda?

The most common types used were fear, the bandwagon, name-calling, euphemism, glittering generalities, transfer, and the testimonial. The posters pulled at emotions-both positive and negative.

Are you a kept man?

A man, supported financially by a female lover (usually a married woman).

What does a kept boy do?

toy boy n. handsome young man kept by a much older woman for the purpose of sexual favors and/or as a companion.

What does mum mean in America?

When to Use Mum As a noun, mum has two meanings. A mum is a type of flower often grown for decorative purposes. It is also an alternative spelling of mom, where it means mother. Mom is more common in American English, while mum is more common in British English.

Why do we call parents mom and Dad?

The words can be traced back to the 1500s for “dad” and the 1800s for “mom”. This, in turn, can be traced back to Latin where “mamma” meant “breast” or “teat”. From this word, we also got the word “mammalia” and later “mammal” to describe animals that suckle their young.

When did mum became mom?

It wasn’t until a few years later in the United States that ‘mommy’ was used in 1844 and ‘momma’ in 1884. ‘Mom’ (pop the champagne) finally appeared in 1867. It’s interesting to note that it was in less than 45 years that five out of six of these terms for mother came about.

Why do people say’mom’and’dad’?

Many of the compliments and comments using “mom” and “dad” are in response to posts made by people with large social media followings. Is it possibly an attempt to get those Instagram- and Twitter-popular people’s attention? Maybe.

Where does the phrase ” Keep mum ” come from?

(Neither is connected with mumping in the sense of begging, which comes from a different word, Dutch in origin, or of mum for a type of beer, whose origin is uncertain.) And there are the various phrases, like mum’s the word and your to keep mum which also include the idea of keeping silent.

When to use’mom’and’dad’as compliments?

Generally it seems that “mom” and “dad” haven’t caught on enough yet to be used as a compliment without leaving people confused; however, when properly defined and explained in context, it makes others feel comfortable being given the compliment.

What does it mean when someone calls you Dad?

A Term of Endearment Calling someone “dad” as a way to express your love and affection for them or some aspect of their personality might seem like a natural usage for it — but it can result in some awkwardness, too: Those on the streets of LA didn’t seem to want to use it this way, but they accepted Habersberger referring to them as such.