make a peep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a peep" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is not making any noise or not speaking up about something. Example: "The children were so well-behaved during the movie that they didn't make a peep."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

For months, he couldn't make a peep.

The New York Times - Arts

He's already dead, so he doesn't make a peep.

The New Yorker

It hurt for a second, but I didn't make a peep.

The New York Times

Peeps produced around Easter: 800 million Calories per Peep: 32 It takes six minutes to make a Peep.

The New York Times

But during the recent European Games held in the repressive state of Azerbaijan, the IOC did not make a peep, despite Olympic Agenda 2020 tenets vowing to "strengthen ethics" and "ensure compliance".

The Guardian - Sport

(Also, they don't always cry—I was on a flight last week from New York to San Francisco and the infant behind me didn't make a peep the whole way, even though it was bumpy).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

And this way, after all those chocolate eggs and omelets, you can head home to make a Peeps diorama, and let someone else do the dishes. .

Los Angeles Times

But just mention Mike Piazza and no one makes a peep.

The New York Times - Sports

I was poised to run out if she made a peep but guess what?

Independent

If, before her contract, Ms. Weldon had happened to adore some Italian jeweler, nobody would have made a peep.

The New York Times

Who cares what we would or would not have made a peep about a hundred years ago?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a peep" to emphasize a complete absence of sound or protest, especially in situations where some reaction might be expected.

Common error

Avoid using "make a peep" literally to describe a small sound. It is primarily used idiomatically to mean 'say anything at all' or 'make any sound of protest'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "make a peep" is as an idiomatic verb phrase. It functions as a verb expressing an action or state of refraining from uttering anything, whether in protest or simply from being silent. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's typically used to describe a lack of sound or vocalization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a peep" is an idiomatic expression used to describe a complete absence of sound or complaint. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. Related phrases include "remain silent" and "say a word". The key is to use it when you want to emphasize that someone didn't make any noise or say anything at all, especially when some reaction might have been expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain silent

Stresses the state of being quiet, akin to not uttering anything.

say a word

Highlights the absence of spoken communication, equivalent to not speaking.

make a sound

Emphasizes the creation of noise, aligning with the idea of not making any noise.

utter a sound

Focuses on the act of producing any sound at all, similar to making even a small noise.

hold one's tongue

Highlights the act of restraining oneself from speaking, similar to choosing not to "make a peep".

not utter a syllable

Stresses the complete absence of speech, similar to not making even a small sound.

keep mum

An informal expression for staying quiet, matching the colloquial tone of "make a peep".

not breathe a word

Implies keeping something secret by not speaking, similar to not making any noise about it.

clam up

Suggests suddenly becoming silent, comparable to ceasing to "make a peep".

zip one's lip

An informal way of telling someone to be quiet, matching the colloquial feel of the original phrase.

FAQs

What does "make a peep" mean?

The idiom "make a peep" means to say something, especially to complain or protest, or to make any sound at all. It often implies a complete absence of noise or complaint.

How can I use "make a peep" in a sentence?

You can use "make a peep" to indicate someone remained completely silent. For example: "The baby didn't "make a peep" during the entire flight."

What are some alternatives to "make a peep"?

Alternatives include "remain silent", "say a word", or "utter a sound", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "didn't made a peep"?

No, the correct phrasing is "didn't make a peep". The auxiliary verb 'did' already indicates the past tense, so the main verb 'make' remains in its base form.