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Mum's the word

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Mum's the word urges strict silence or secrecy about a matter; poetically, it emphasizes confidentiality, conspiracy, or discretion, highlighting the power of withheld information and trusted silence.

Detailed Definition
Mum's the word means keep silent, say nothing, or preserve a secret. In poetry, the idiom can be playful, conspiratorial, protective, or sinister. It is useful in poems about gossip, hidden love, political danger, family shame, childhood games, or withheld testimony. The word “mum” suggests closed lips and deliberate silence, giving secrecy a sound of its own. A poet may use it to explore loyalty, complicity, discretion, fear, and the moral burden of knowing what must not be spoken.
Example
Example in poetry:
A comic poem might have the conspirators whisper mum's the word as the cake is hidden for the birthday; In a spy ballad, mum's the word keeps the password safe until midnight; The phrase means keep silent about a secret; A poet can use it for secrecy, playfulness, or suspense.
Additional Notes
Mum’s the word means keep silent or keep a secret. Mum here means silent, not mother, though poets may play with the ambiguity. In poetry, it can support secrecy, conspiracy, childhood games, hidden love, or suppressed testimony. The phrase is compact and theatrical, often used as a spoken aside. Students should ask whether silence protects, deceives, oppresses, or preserves intimacy.
Also Known As
Keep mum Hush-hush Keep it under your hat Don't breathe a word Loose lips sink ships Button your lip Keep it quiet Mum is the word
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