The English We Speak – To keep a lid on it

Mar 102015

BBC Learning English: The English We Speak – To keep a lid on it: when you say keep a lid on something, it means keep it secret – or keep it quiet about it…

Li and Neil go for a coffee, but why do they have to keep a lid on it?

_______Show Transcript______

(sound of coffee cup being put on a table)

Li
Thanks for the coffee, Neil. What a good idea to present The English We Speak from a coffee shop!

Neil
Yes, Li, it’s good to get out of the studio – and anyway, I get the coffee for free here.

Li
You don’t pay for it?! So why do you get it for free?

Neil
(Sounding slightly vague) Contacts.

Li
Err… contacts?

Neil
Yes, people I know. Don’t tell anyone but my friend works here and… well… when the boss isn’t around, he gives me the coffee for free.

Li
(loudly and surprised) He gives it to you for free?

Neil
Ssshhh! Keep your voice down. If he gets found out he’ll get the sack – you know, lose his job. We need to keep a lid on it.

Li
Keep a lid on it?! Why do we need to keep a lid on the coffee? Are we trying to hide it?

Neil
No Li. When you say keep a lid on something, it means keep it secret – or keep it quiet about it…

Li
Oh I see.

Neil
The phrase can also mean keep something strongly under control. Like your loud voice – control it and don’t tell anyone! Keep a lid on it.

Li
We had better hear some examples while I drink my coffee… quietly!

Examples
We need to keep a lid on the company merger – if the newspapers get to hear about this, our share price will drop.

Our baby is due in November but keep a lid on the news – we haven’t told our parents yet.

Please – keep a lid on your emotions – otherwise the waiter is going to ask us to leave!

Li
So that is keeping a lid on something. (sips coffee) Mmm, this coffee does taste good but I don’t like the idea that you got it for free – it’s dishonest… I might have to tell someone about this dishonest behaviour.

Neil
Ah! You mean you’re going ‘to lift the lid’ on what I’m doing – that means to tell someone about something bad – well, you can but you know what that will mean?

Li
What’s that?

Neil
You’ll be buying the coffee next time – and it’s not cheap!

Li
Oh right – let’s just keep it our little secret for now shall we?

Neil
OK Li!

Both
Bye.

The English We Speak – To keep a lid on it Transcript Video