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  What it means

  Literally “to hold one’s tongue behind one’s teeth,” this idiom means to keep quiet, stay silent, or keep a secret. It tells someone not to reveal information, gossip, or say something they may regret. Poles use it as both a warning to others (“hold your tongue!”) and advice to themselves when being discreet. It is especially common with sensitive information, workplace gossip, or personal secrets.

  Vocabulary

  • trzymać — to hold, to keep
  • język — tongue; also language
  • za — behind (with instrumental)
  • zęby — teeth (nominative: ząb = tooth)

  Grammar note

  The verb trzymać is imperfective and takes a direct object in the accusative case (język). Here za takes the instrumental case, giving zębami (the instrumental plural of ząb). The infinitive phrase trzymać język za zębami is common in advice and commands.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is neutral and widely understood across Poland. It has the same basic meaning as the English 'hold your tongue' or 'keep your mouth shut,' and appears in everyday talk, literature, and journalism.

  Beginner

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