keep one's cards close to one's chest

The figurative sense is a self-evident extension from the literal sense.

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

keep one's cards close to one's chest (third-person singular simple present keeps one's cards close to one's chest, present participle keeping one's cards close to one's chest, simple past and past participle kept one's cards close to one's chest)

1. (idiomatic, figurative) To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.

   Synonyms: keep one's counsel, chest one's cards

   • 1997, Sabine Rewald, “Balthus's Magic Mountain”, in The Burlington Magazine, volume 139, number 1134, page 626:

     Balthus has always kept his cards close to his chest. When I asked him if Summertime was a transcription of Poussin's Echo and Narcissus—a variant of his lost copy—he did not reply.

   • 2002 December 25, Anil Netto, “Malaysia: Year of surprises and hardships”, in Asia Times, retrieved 25 Oct. 2008:

     Abdullah has not yet revealed his choice for the No 2 post when he takes over as prime minister, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.

   • 2023 June 28, Ben Jones, “Are we getting rid of our (still useful) rolling stock too early?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 29:

     However, the operator is keeping its cards close to its chest.

2. (card games, literal) To hold one's hand close to one's chest so that other players cannot see the cards.

• (both senses): chest one's cards, hold one's cards close to one's chest, play one's cards close to one's chest, keep one's cards close to one's vest, hold one's cards close to one's vest, play one's cards close to one's vest

• hide the ball