play one's cards close to one's vest

play one's cards close to one's vest
play one's cards close to one's chest & play one's cards close to one's vest & keep one's cards close to one's chest & keep one's cards close to one's vest
Fig. to keep to oneself or be very cautious in one's dealing with people. (As if one were playing cards and not permitting anyone to see any of the cards.) •

He is very cautious. He plays his cards close to his chest.

You seem to be playing your cards close to your vest.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • play one's cards close to one's vest — play (or keep) one s cards close to one s vest see chest …   Useful english dictionary

  • play (or keep) one's cards close to one's vest — see chest. → vest …   English new terms dictionary

  • play one's cards close to one's chest — To conceal one s full intentions ● card * * * I play (or keep) one s cards close to one s chest (or vest) informal be secretive and cautious about one s intentions II see ch …   Useful english dictionary

  • play/hold/keep your cards close to the/your chest/vest — to keep your plans, ideas, etc., hidden from other people No one knows if he s going to run for reelection. He s still playing his cards close to his chest. • • • Main Entry: ↑card …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep (or play) one's cards close to one's chest (or US vest) — informal be extremely secretive about one s intentions. → chest …   English new terms dictionary

  • vest — noun 1》 Brit. an undergarment worn on the upper part of the body, typically sleeveless. 2》 a sleeveless garment worn on the upper part of the body for a particular purpose: a bulletproof vest. 3》 N. Amer. & Austral. a waistcoat or sleeveless… …   English new terms dictionary

  • vest — [vest] n. [Fr veste < It < L vestis, garment < IE base * wes , to clothe > OE werian, to WEAR1] 1. a) a short, tightfitting, sleeveless garment worn, esp. under a suit coat, by men b) a similar garment worn by women c) an insert or… …   English World dictionary

  • international relations — a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations. [1970 75] * * * Study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies and political… …   Universalium

  • chest — noun 1》 the front surface of a person s or animal s body between the neck and the stomach.     ↘the whole of a person s upper trunk. 2》 a large strong box for storage or transport. 3》 Brit. the treasury or financial resources of an institution.… …   English new terms dictionary

  • JERUSALEM — The entry is arranged according to the following outline: history name protohistory the bronze age david and first temple period second temple period the roman period byzantine jerusalem arab period crusader period mamluk period …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… …   Universalium

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