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Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase 'Mum's the word', which means 'keep quiet - say nothing'. Discover the connection between 'mum' and mumming, a medieval tradition of disguise and performance.
MUM'S THE WORD definition: 1. said when you tell someone, or agree with someone, to keep something a secret: 2. said when you…. Learn more.
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".
- 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...
Learn the meaning, origin and usage of the idiom "mum's the word", which means to keep a secret or stay silent. Find out the difference between "mum's the word" and "mum is the word", and see examples and synonyms.
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Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase "mum's the word", which means to keep quiet and say nothing about a secret or a plan. See how to use it in different contexts and find similar idioms.
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Jun 18, 2023 · Learn the meaning and usage of the informal idiom mum's the word, which means keeping something secret. See examples of mum's the word in sentences and related words and games.
