Search results
‘Mum’s the word’ means ‘keep quiet – say nothing’. What's the origin of the phrase 'Mum's the word'? ‘Mum’s the word’ has become a popular name for baby product shops and nursery services, but the ‘mum’ in this phrase isn’t mother.
The phrase “mum’s the word” is a common idiom used in English to indicate that one should remain silent or keep a secret. This expression has been around for centuries, but its exact origins are not entirely clear.
- Origin of ‘Mum’S The Word’
- Development of The Idiom ‘Mum’S The Word’
- What ‘Mum’S The Word’ Is Not
However, in using the word ‘mum’ Shakespeare was using one of the Old English words that were still in use in his time. It has nothing to do with ‘mother,’ which is how we use the word today, and it is that that leads to the confusion that this is about one’s mother. There is a similar word in Old High German – “stum” – which indicates a common anc...
In 1540 in John Palgrave’s translation of The Comedye of Acolastus we come across a variant of the phrase, “I dare not to do so moche as put my hande to my mouthe, and say mum, is counseyle”, which led to Shakespeare using it in the same way in Henry VI Part 2. The first instance of the use of the phrase ‘mum’s the word’ to caution someone to keep ...
‘Mum’ has nothing to do with Egyptian mummies, The word ‘mummy, applied to embalmed Egyptian corpses’ derives from ‘mum’ being an alternative name for the bitumen used for embalming. That may be the same word but it has completely different roots. Neither does ‘’mum’ come from the humming sound, ‘mmmm’ made with a closed mouth, indicating an unwill...
Mum's the word is a popular English idiom. It is related to an expression used by William Shakespeare, in Henry VI, Part 2. [1] The word "mum" is an alteration of momme, which was used between 1350 and 1400 in Middle English with very close to the same meaning, "be silent; do not reveal".
Mum’s the Word Meaning. “Mum’s the word” is an idiomatic phrase that means to keep a secret or to stay silent about a certain matter. In English, we use it to show the importance of not revealing certain information or discussing a particular topic.
- Author
The idiom "mum's the word" means that there is a secret or important information that should not be shared or talked about. It suggests that whoever is keeping this information, whether it's a parent, an authority figure, or someone else with power, does not want others to know about it.
Oct 8, 2024 · The phrase “mum’s the word” means to keep something a secret or to refrain from speaking about a particular topic. It is often used as a request for discretion, indicating that someone should not share certain information or that they should remain silent about a specific matter.
