"keeping mum" 的音标为 /ˈkiːpɪŋ mʌm/（英式与美式发音一致）。这里的 "mum" 并非指"妈妈"，而是拟声词衍生的形容词，表示"沉默的、守密的"，整个短语意为"保持沉默，不泄露秘密" 。它强调对已知信息或计划的刻意缄口，英文释义为"refuse to talk or stop talking; fall silent" 。

用法解析：

核心语义：侧重于主动保守秘密或抑制言论，可替换为 "stay mum"，两者均表示"不泄露心里的打算或某项秘密" 。

常见搭配：可独立使用，或后接介词 "about" 引出沉默的内容，如 "keep mum about sth"（对某事闭口不谈）。

例句：

He is keeping mum about his feelings on the matter.（他对自己对此事的感受闭口不谈。）

I reckon we're safe as long as we keep mum.（我认为只要我们保持沉默就安全了。）

Nudging buyers toward subprime loans, or keeping mum about the risks, means more sales go through.（诱导买家选择次级贷款，或对风险保持沉默，意味着更多交易达成。）

The military potential here is obvious, but DARPA is keeping mum on any future implementations.（其军事潜力显而易见，但DARPA对未来应用闭口不谈。）

Sotheby's is keeping mum about the seller, but says the owner is a private entity.（苏富比对卖家信息保密，仅透露所有者为私人实体。）

"I'm not telling people generally yet." "OK, mum's the word!"（"我还没告诉其他人。""好的，我一定保密！"）

Remember, do not have itching ears outside. Mum's the word for me.（记住，别在外面打听，替我保密。）

MDC, which insists its man won outright, is keeping mum on whether it will take part in a run-off.（民革运坚称己方候选人完胜，却对是否参加 runoff选举保持沉默。）

Ergo in Demand's Mr. Scholom says that by keeping mum, Google is hurting small businesses.（Ergo in Demand的Scholom先生表示，谷歌的缄默正损害小企业利益。）

Though they're clearly keeping mum on the subject, a delivery service would align with Google's recent moves.（尽管他们对此事守口如瓶，但配送服务似乎符合谷歌近期的商业布局。）

相关短语：

mum's the word：英式俚语，意为"别声张，一定保密"，源自莎士比亚《亨利六世》中的台词"Seal up your lips and give no words but mum" 。

everyone and their mum：夸张表达"大多数人，很多人"，如"Everyone and their mum is going on vacation, but I have to work."（大家都去度假了，就我得上班。）

为何"mum"会从"妈妈"衍生出"沉默"含义？其根源可追溯至中古英语"momme"（意为"保持沉默"），由"murmur"（哑剧演员）一词演变而来，形容如哑剧演员般无声的状态 。下次听到"keeping mum"，可别误以为在谈论家庭琐事哦。