- Meaning
- This idiom describes being secretive or cautious about one’s plans, intentions, or feelings, as if hiding playing cards close to avoid revealing them. It conveys discretion or strategic reserve, often used in personal, business, or competitive contexts to depict guarded behavior. The phrase carries a tone of prudence, mystery, or strategy, reflecting cultural values of privacy and the human tendency to protect advantages. Its card-playing imagery evokes a high-stakes game, resonating in scenarios like negotiations or personal relationships. The idiom emphasizes careful restraint, making it a shrewd metaphor for strategic secrecy.
- Origin
- The phrase originated in 19th-century Britain, tied to card games like poker, where players hid cards to maintain an edge, as noted in gambling manuals. Its earliest recorded use appears in *The Times* (1860s), describing a politician’s reserved strategy. The idiom gained traction in the early 20th century, particularly in business and political discourse, with *The Wall Street Journal* (1920s) using it for corporate secrecy. Its spread was amplified by noir films and literature, notably in Raymond Chandler’s *The Big Sleep* (1939). Its adoption across English-speaking cultures stems from its vivid imagery and relevance to strategy.
- Variants
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- Cards close to your chest
- Keep your cards close
- Play your cards close to your chest
- Examples
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- She kept her cards close to her chest during the merger talks.
- Cards close to your chest, he didn’t reveal his next career move.
- Play your cards close to your chest in this negotiation.
- Keeping his cards close, he avoided discussing his plans.
- Keep your cards close to your chest, she advised, until the deal is final.
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