keep your ideas to yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep your ideas to yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to refrain from sharing their thoughts or opinions, often in a context where it may not be appropriate or welcomed. Example: "During the meeting, I suggest you keep your ideas to yourself if they don't align with the team's goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Unless you're making a genuine world-beating blockbuster with one eye on the international box office and the other on a dirty great pile of merchandising opportunities, keep your ideas to yourself.

The Guardian - Film

Keep your ideas to yourself?

Huffington Post

Sometimes it's best to just keep your ideas to yourself to avoid fights.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Do you have to keep your ideas secret? asks Wenders.

The Guardian - Arts

Keep your ideas in the back of your mind and instead learn to generally become a good storyteller.

WikiHow

Keep your ideas flowing.

WikiHow

Keep your ideas about change reasonable.

WikiHow

Keep a folder where you keep your ideas and let them generate into future scripts.

WikiHow

Keep your ideas around for times that they might be more workable.

WikiHow

The moment I talk like this, I break the cardinal rule of "inclusion" and "access to the powerful," namely: keep your prophetic ideas to yourself and never expose the way that fundamental principles are being abandoned for the sake of having power.

Huffington Post

Do you plan to keep your idea secret from everyone else in the world?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keep your ideas to yourself" when you want to strongly suggest someone not voice their opinions, especially in situations where those opinions might be unwelcome or detrimental.

Common error

Avoid using "keep your ideas to yourself" in brainstorming sessions or team meetings where open communication is encouraged. It can stifle creativity and discourage participation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep your ideas to yourself" functions as an imperative, directly instructing or advising someone to refrain from expressing their thoughts. Ludwig confirms its usability. The phrase typically aims to discourage sharing of opinions, often to avoid conflict or maintain order.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep your ideas to yourself" is an imperative suggesting silence, particularly regarding one's opinions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, yet its directness can be perceived negatively if not carefully delivered. Primarily found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, it carries a neutral to informal register. While grammatically sound, this phrase should be used thoughtfully, especially in environments valuing open dialogue. Related phrases, such as "hold your tongue", offer more nuanced alternatives for advising discretion. Use this phrase sparingly and consider the potential impact on communication and relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold your tongue

Implies refraining from speaking, especially when one is tempted to say something provocative or inappropriate. This alternative focuses on verbal restraint in general.

keep your thoughts private

Emphasizes the privacy of one's thoughts, suggesting that they should not be shared with others. This alternative is a more gentle suggestion.

bite your lip

Indicates suppressing a reaction or comment, often due to frustration or disagreement. This alternative is more about physically restraining oneself.

don't share your perspective

This directly advises against sharing one's point of view, making it a clear alternative. Focus is on the 'perspective' aspect.

clam up

Suggests becoming silent or uncommunicative, possibly due to shyness or reluctance. It's a less direct way to suggest someone not share ideas.

hold back your opinions

Suggests suppressing one's opinions, often due to a fear of negative consequences. This alternative highlights the potential for disagreement.

keep mum

Means to remain silent or say nothing about something, often a secret. This alternative emphasizes secrecy more than simply not sharing ideas.

zip your lip

An informal command to be quiet, often used humorously. This alternative is a more playful way to suggest silence.

button your lip

Similar to "zip your lip", this is an informal way of telling someone to be quiet. It shares the playful tone.

refrain from expressing your views

A more formal and polite way to suggest someone not share their opinions. This alternative is less direct and more diplomatic.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to tell someone to "keep your ideas to yourself"?

It's appropriate when someone's ideas are disruptive, off-topic, or potentially harmful to a situation. However, consider a more tactful approach if possible.

What's a more polite way to say "keep your ideas to yourself"?

You could say "Perhaps this isn't the right time to share that" or "Let's focus on the current topic" to be more diplomatic.

Is "keep your thoughts to yourself" the same as "keep your ideas to yourself"?

Yes, they are very similar. "Keep your thoughts to yourself" is a slightly broader term, encompassing all forms of thinking, while "keep your ideas to yourself" specifically refers to concepts and proposals.

What are the negative connotations of saying "keep your ideas to yourself"?

It can come across as dismissive, controlling, and discouraging. It may shut down conversation and damage relationships if not used carefully.