Expression: Mettre sa langue dans sa poche
Pronunciation: [
meh tr(eu) sa la(n)g da(n) sa puhsh]
Meaning: To be quiet, to stay silent
Literal translation: To put one's tongue in one's pocket
Register: informal
Notes: The French expression
mettre sa langue dans sa poche means to not say anything, because putting your tongue in your pocket makes it unusable. This same idea can be found in the expression
ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche, which means "to talk a lot, to say what one thinks, to always have a retort" (even if it's tactless or embarassing).
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Example:
Gêné par la discussion, il a mis sa langue dans sa poche
Embarrassed by the discussion, he stayed silent