Exercise

1. If you say keep it under your hat, you want someone to:

a) cover up their hair

b) put something in their pocket

c) keep something secret

2) What does Nina want you to keep secret?

Answers

1. c

2. mum's birthday present

Read

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression keep it under your hat. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Did you hear about John? He's leaving the company to go travelling!

B: Really? I didn't know anything about that!

A: Well, it's supposed to be a secret, so keep it under your hat until he tells everyone.

B: Oh okay, I promise I won't tell anyone else.

If you want someone to keep some information secret and not tell anyone else, you can say keep it under your hat. The idea is that something is concealed or hidden there. The phrase probably started in the times when most people wore hats every day. Although it seems very strange today, people sometimes used to put small personal objects under their hats, using the space like an extra pocket!

Right, I have to go out and buy my mum's birthday present now, but keep it under your hat!

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.