To “play your cards close to your chest” means to keep your thoughts, plans, or intentions hidden from others, usually in a strategic or cautious manner. It suggests being discreet or secretive, not revealing your true intentions, thoughts, or next move. This expression originates from card games, where players hold their cards close to their chest to prevent others from seeing them. In everyday life, it’s used to describe someone who is intentionally keeping their plans or ideas private, often to gain an advantage or avoid giving away too much information. In Indonesian, this could be expressed as “menyembunyikan rencana” or “menyimpan kartu di dada”, indicating the idea of concealing one’s intentions.
Synonyms:
- Keep secrets
- Be secretive
- Keep things under wraps
- Keep quiet
- Be tight-lipped
- Hold back
- Stay guarded
- Keep to oneself
- Withhold information
- Conceal intentions
Example Sentences:
- He decided to play his cards close to his chest during the negotiation, not revealing his true demands.
- She’s playing her cards close to her chest about the upcoming promotion—no one knows if she’s interested in it.
- I can’t trust him; he always plays his cards close to his chest and never shares what he’s really thinking.
- They played their cards close to their chest during the meeting, waiting until the last minute to reveal their strategy.
- She’s known for playing her cards close to her chest, so no one was surprised when she kept her plans private.
- The CEO played his cards close to his chest about the company’s future, leaving the staff to guess what was coming.
- When asked about her opinion on the matter, she just played her cards close to her chest and refused to elaborate.
- He played his cards close to his chest, not even telling his closest colleagues about his decision.
- In politics, it’s often smart to play your cards close to your chest until you know how things are going to unfold.
- I wish he wouldn’t play his cards close to his chest; I’d like to know where we stand in the project.
Related Words:
- Secretive
- Guarded
- Discreet
- Cautious
- Reticent
- Private
- Hidden
- Mysterious
- Reserved
- Shrewd
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Keep a secret (to conceal information, similar to playing your cards close to your chest)
- Hold back (to refrain from sharing information or emotions, like playing your cards close to your chest)
- Keep under wraps (to keep something secret or undisclosed, often for strategic reasons)
- Keep to yourself (to remain private or not reveal personal plans, similar to playing your cards close to your chest)
- Hold your cards close (a variant of the expression, meaning to keep your intentions hidden)
- Keep your cards in your hand (another way to say play your cards close to your chest, implying holding onto your plans)
- Keep quiet (to not reveal anything, either intentionally or out of discretion)
- Shut down (to stop conversation or sharing information, possibly to play your cards close to your chest)
- Hedge your bets (to act cautiously and avoid revealing full intentions, similar to playing your cards close to your chest)
- Keep something to yourself (to not share information or plans with others, much like playing your cards close to your chest)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Keep something close to the vest (the same meaning as play your cards close to your chest, emphasizing secrecy and discretion)
- In the dark (to be kept unaware or uninformed about something, often because someone is playing their cards close to their chest)
- Not let the cat out of the bag (to prevent something secret from being revealed, akin to playing your cards close to your chest)
- Keep a low profile (to avoid drawing attention, sometimes because you are playing your cards close to your chest)
- Out of the loop (not being informed or involved, which can happen when someone is playing their cards close to their chest)
- Play it close to the vest (similar to play your cards close to your chest, meaning to be secretive)
- Keep your cards hidden (a variant of the expression, suggesting you are intentionally keeping your plans or thoughts concealed)
- Fly under the radar (to remain unnoticed or unpublicized, often by playing your cards close to your chest)
- Take it slow (to act cautiously or discreetly, like playing your cards close to your chest)
- Keep your options open (to not reveal your plans or decisions too soon, similar to playing your cards close to your chest)
The phrase “play your cards close to your chest” reflects a cautious approach to handling sensitive information or future plans. It’s a strategy often used in negotiations, personal relationships, or competitive situations where revealing too much too soon could put you at a disadvantage. By keeping things private, you maintain control and avoid giving others the upper hand.
