• Listen

  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 urges someone not to reveal information, gossip, or say something they might regret. Poles use it both as a warning to others (“hold your tongue!”) and as self-advice when exercising discretion. It is especially common in situations involving 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). The preposition za here governs the instrumental case, giving zębami (instrumental plural of ząb). The reflexive or infinitive construction trzymać język za zębami is widely used in advice and commands.

  Cultural context

  This phrase is neutral in register and widely understood across Poland. It carries the same meaning as the English 'hold your tongue' or 'keep your mouth shut,' and is used in everyday conversation, literature, and journalism alike.

  Beginner

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