Шукати
(as) close as an oyster
01
хтось, хто вміє зберігати таємницю
a person who can be trusted with one's secrets
What is the origin of the idiom "close as an oyster" and when to use it?
The idiom "close as an oyster" originated from Shakespeare's play "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and refers to someone who is uncommunicative, secretive, or reluctant to share information. In the play, the character Pistol says, "Why, then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open." The metaphor compares the closed and secretive nature of an oyster's shell to a person who is tight-lipped or unresponsive. Over time, the idiom evolved to describe someone who is unresponsive or lacking in intelligence.
Приклад
Whenever we asked her about her personal life, she would become as close as an oyster, deflecting our questions with a smile.
She's as close as an oyster.
Despite repeated attempts to get him to talk, he remained as close as an oyster, revealing nothing about his involvement in the incident.
The new employee was dumb as an oyster when it came to understanding the company's procedures and policies.
Whereat he smiled, but remained dumb as an oyster.
