keep a secret

Meaning

To 'keep a secret' means to not tell anyone else a piece of information that is meant to be private. It is used when you want to show that you are trustworthy or when asking someone else to protect private information. It is a very common, neutral expression used in both casual and professional settings.

Examples

• I need to tell you something, but you have to promise to keep a secret.

  I need to tell you something, but you have to promise to keep a secret.

• Don't worry, you can trust Sarah to keep a secret; she never gossips.

  Don't worry, you can trust Sarah to keep a secret; she never gossips.

• It is really hard to keep a secret when everyone is asking you questions about it.

  It is really hard to keep a secret when everyone is asking you questions about it.

• He kept a secret from his family for months because he wanted to surprise them.

  He kept a secret from his family for months because he wanted to surprise them.

• If you can't keep a secret, people will eventually stop trusting you with important things.

  If you can't keep a secret, people will eventually stop trusting you with important things.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you save a secret?

  ✓ Can you keep a secret?

  Learners often translate literally from their native language and use 'save' or 'guard'. In English, the correct verb to pair with 'secret' is always 'keep'.

• ✗ I promised to keep secret.

  ✓ I promised to keep a secret.

  You must include the article 'a' before 'secret' when using this specific phrase, unless you say 'keep it secret'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't tell you about the party because I promised to ___.

  💡 To promise not to reveal private information.

  Show answer

  keep a secret

• If I tell you what happened, can you ___?

  💡 Ask the listener to not tell anyone else.

  Show answer

  keep a secret

• It's hard for young children to ___ because they get too excited.

  💡 To hide private information from others.

  Show answer

  keep a secret