keep quiet — not speak
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to stop talking or remain silent, especially when asked or expected to do so.
Say it like a native
Textbook I elected to remain silent regarding the matter.
Native I decided to keep quiet about it.
'Keep quiet' is natural; 'remain silent regarding the matter' is formal/legal.
Pattern: keep quiet (about something) / keep quiet (imperative)
In use
- Please keep quiet during the movie so everyone can enjoy it.daily life
- In my opinion, it's important to keep quiet in the library because it helps others focus on their studies.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He kept quiet the secret.
✓ He kept quiet about the secret.
'Keep quiet ABOUT something' — don't drop 'about'.
Common collocations
keep quiet (about)— about, stay, kids, please
Don't confuse it
'Keep quiet' focuses on staying silent, while 'stay quiet' can also mean not making noise.