Play It Close to the Chest——守口如瓶

** be secretive or cautious about one's intentions（對一個人的意圖要保密或謹慎）// give nothing away（不要給任何信息）// not giving your hand away（不要透露你的秘密）

~~保守秘密；守口如瓶；秘而不宣；竭力不動聲色；對自己的意圖或行為秘而不宣；在某種情景下不要讓別人知道你在做甚麼；做事小心謹慎

~~play one's cards close to one's chest // play it close to one's chest // play it close to the vest // play close to the vest // be wary // beware

!! The slang could have come from the American game of poker invented in around 1864. Then, the card-players would surely have been wearing waistcoasts (British) or vest (American).

（這個俚語可能來自一八六四年左右美國發明的撲克遊戲。當時的紙牌玩家肯定穿着waistcoasts（英國背心）或vest（美國背心）。

Poker players keep their cards low on the table and close to their vests to prevent them from being overlooked.

（撲克玩家將紙牌放在桌旁並貼近他們的背心，以防他們被看到。）

The original version was “to play one's cards close to the vest buttons,” in print for only a few times. The word “buttons” was quickly dropped. And, “chest” had been used several years later and ever since.

（最初的版本是“將紙牌放在靠近背心鈕扣的位置”，但只出現了幾次，“鈕扣”這個字很快就被刪除了。幾年後，“胸部”已經一直被使用。）

>> We've no idea how the hostile take-over will bid, let's play it close to the chest with our profit and loss data.

（我們不知道敵意收購將如何競標，所以我們要對盈虧數據保守秘密。）

>> You're the developer of the exams; you must play your cards close to your chest.

（你是試卷的作者，你必須守口如瓶。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師

李啟文　　教授