keep your troubles to yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep your troubles to yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to not share their problems or difficulties with others, often implying that they should handle them privately. Example: "When faced with challenges, sometimes it's best to keep your troubles to yourself and find a solution on your own."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I believe you should keep your troubles to yourself.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Make sure that you have things to keep your dog out of trouble.

WikiHow

Make sure your insurance provides enough coverage to keep your family out of financial trouble.

Huffington Post

Keep your eyes open for trouble, but be careful and always know what you're getting yourself into!

WikiHow

Try to keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble.

WikiHow

Keep your eyes open for trouble!

WikiHow

Always keep your eye out for trouble when working with cows and bulls.

WikiHow

You'll need to support yourself using your elbows, but so long as you keep your balance you shouldn't have trouble with this exercise.

WikiHow

The men dressed in dark suits, avoided indiscretions and kept their troubles to themselves.

The New York Times

People keep themselves to themselves, because the more you keep yourself to yourself the less trouble can happen".

The Guardian

"Where we come from, we keep trouble to ourselves and try to find a way to fix it," Sharon Scott, 25, one of Ms. Jones's five siblings, said in an interview.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "keep your troubles to yourself" when advising someone to manage their problems independently, especially when sharing might burden others or be unproductive.

Common error

Avoid using "keep your troubles to yourself" when empathy and support are needed. It can come across as dismissive or uncaring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep your troubles to yourself" functions as an imperative, advising someone to refrain from sharing their problems with others. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used when suggesting managing issues privately.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Reference

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep your troubles to yourself" is an idiomatic expression advising someone to manage their problems privately. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct. It's most suitable in informal contexts where the intent is to encourage self-reliance or avoid burdening others. However, it should be used cautiously to avoid seeming insensitive. Alternative expressions include "handle your problems privately" or "don't burden others with your problems". Ludwig examples show its use in Wiki and News & Media sources, but its overall frequency is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

handle your problems privately

Focuses on the action of dealing with issues in a non-public manner.

don't burden others with your problems

Emphasizes the impact on other people.

deal with your issues personally

Stresses the importance of individual problem-solving.

keep your problems under wraps

Uses a more figurative expression to describe concealing issues.

keep your affairs private

Widens the scope from troubles to general matters.

suffer in silence

Highlights the lack of outward expression of difficulty or pain.

bear your burdens alone

Implies carrying difficulties without help.

bottle up your feelings

Highlights the suppression of emotions related to problems.

internalize your struggles

Focuses on the mental and emotional process of dealing with hardship.

maintain a stoic attitude

Suggests dealing with issues without showing emotion.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to advise someone to "keep your troubles to yourself"?

It's appropriate when someone's sharing of their problems is becoming burdensome to others, or when they seem to be seeking attention rather than solutions. However, consider the emotional needs of the person before offering this advice, as it could be perceived as insensitive.

What are some less harsh alternatives to "keep your troubles to yourself"?

Consider saying something like "Have you thought about handling this privately?" or "Sometimes it helps to "work through things on your own"" to be more gentle.

Is "keep your troubles to yourself" always good advice?

No, it is not. Sometimes, "sharing your problems" can lead to helpful solutions and emotional support. It depends on the situation and the person involved.

What's the difference between "keep your troubles to yourself" and "don't share your problems"?

"Keep your troubles to yourself" is a more idiomatic way of saying "don't share your problems". Both suggest not disclosing difficulties, but the former is often used when the sharing is perceived as excessive or unwelcome.