tight-lipped

She remained tight-lipped when asked about the surprise party.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Reluctant to speak: "tight-lipped" describes someone who is unwilling to reveal information or express their thoughts, often due to secrecy, caution, or emotional restraint.
   • Having the lips pressed firmly together: Literally, this refers to a facial expression where the mouth is closed tightly, often indicating anger, disapproval, or determination.

Usage Examples

• Reluctant to speak:

  • The witness remained tight-lipped during the interrogation. (The witness refused to answer questions or give details.)
  • She was tight-lipped about her plans for the weekend. (She did not share any information about her weekend activities.)

• Having lips pressed together:

  • He stood there, tight-lipped, staring at the broken vase. (His lips were pressed together in a firm line, showing his displeasure or frustration.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be tight-lipped about something": to refuse to discuss a particular topic or to give only minimal information.

  • The company's executives were tight-lipped about the upcoming merger. (They declined to provide any details or comments on the merger.)

• "tight-lipped silence": a state of complete refusal to speak, often in a tense situation.

  • Her tight-lipped silence made everyone in the room uncomfortable. (Her refusal to speak, with her mouth firmly closed, created an awkward atmosphere.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tight-lippedness (noun): the quality or state of being tight-lipped.

  • His tight-lippedness during the meeting frustrated his colleagues. (His unwillingness to speak annoyed his coworkers.)

• Lip-tight (adj): a less common synonym for tight-lipped, emphasizing the physical closure of the lips.

  • She remained lip-tight throughout the argument. (She kept her lips firmly shut and refused to speak.)

Synonyms

• Reticent: not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

  • He was reticent about his past. (He was unwilling to talk about his history.)

• Secretive: inclined to conceal feelings or intentions.

  • The diplomat was secretive about his negotiations. (He kept his discussions hidden from others.)

• Mum: informal, meaning silent or not speaking.

  • She stayed mum when asked about the surprise party. (She said nothing to reveal the secret.)

Antonyms

• Talkative: fond of or given to talking.
• Open: willing to share information or feelings.

Related Idioms

• Keep one's lips sealed: to remain silent or keep a secret.

  • I promised to keep my lips sealed about the surprise. (I agreed not to reveal the secret.)

• Button one's lip: to stop talking or remain silent.

  • He buttoned his lip when the boss entered the room. (He suddenly became quiet and refused to speak.)