How do you use "keep a secret" in a sentence?

Can you keep a secret? I'm getting promoted. She's terrible at keeping secrets. He kept the secret for over twenty years.

keep a secret

Q: What does "keep a secret" mean?

To not reveal confidential information to others We say 'keep a secret' not 'hold a secret' or 'save a secret'. The verb 'keep' implies maintaining possession and not letting go of the information.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: To not reveal confidential information to others

保守秘密

guardar un secreto

秘密を守る

비밀을 지키다

We say 'keep a secret' not 'hold a secret' or 'save a secret'. The verb 'keep' implies maintaining possession and not letting go of the information.

我们说'keep a secret'而不是'hold a secret'或'save a secret'。动词'keep'意味着持有并不泄露信息。

Decimos 'keep a secret' y no 'hold a secret' ni 'save a secret'. El verbo 'keep' implica retener la información y no dejarla escapar.

「keep a secret」と言い、「hold a secret」や「save a secret」とは言いません。動詞「keep」は情報を保持して漏らさないことを意味します。

'keep a secret'이라고 하며 'hold a secret'이나 'save a secret'이라고 하지 않습니다. 'keep'은 정보를 간직하고 놓지 않는다는 의미를 내포합니다.

Ejemplos

Can you keep a secret? I'm getting promoted.
你能保守秘密吗？我要升职了。
¿Puedes guardar un secreto? Me van a ascender.
秘密を守れますか？昇進するんです。
비밀을 지킬 수 있나요? 저 승진해요.
She's terrible at keeping secrets.
她不擅长保守秘密。
Es malísima guardando secretos.
彼女は秘密を守るのが苦手です。
그녀는 비밀을 지키는 것을 못합니다.
He kept the secret for over twenty years.
他保守了这个秘密二十多年。
Guardó el secreto durante más de veinte años.
彼はその秘密を20年以上守りました。
그는 그 비밀을 20년 넘게 지켰습니다.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: friendships, trust, confidentiality

Tono: conspiratorial

✓ Correcto

Can you keep a secret?
你能保守秘密吗？
¿Puedes guardar un secreto?
秘密を守れますか？
비밀을 지킬 수 있나요?
I promise to keep your secret.
我保证保守你的秘密。
Prometo guardar tu secreto.
あなたの秘密を守ると約束します。
당신의 비밀을 지키겠다고 약속합니다.
She can't keep a secret to save her life.
她这个人根本守不住秘密。
Es incapaz de guardar un secreto.
彼女は絶対に秘密を守れません。
그녀는 절대로 비밀을 지키지 못합니다.

✗ Incorrecto

Can you hold a secret? (use 'keep' not 'hold' with secret)
你能hold一个秘密吗？（用'keep'而不是'hold'搭配secret）
¿Puedes hold un secreto? (se usa 'keep', no 'hold' con secret)
秘密をholdできますか？（secretには「hold」ではなく「keep」を使います）
비밀을 hold할 수 있어요? (secret에는 'hold'가 아니라 'keep'을 씁니다)
Can you save a secret? (use 'keep' not 'save' with secret)
你能save一个秘密吗？（用'keep'而不是'save'搭配secret）
¿Puedes save un secreto? (se usa 'keep', no 'save' con secret)
秘密をsaveできますか？（secretには「save」ではなく「keep」を使います）
비밀을 save할 수 있어요? (secret에는 'save'가 아니라 'keep'을 씁니다)

Origen e historia

Natural English collocation — 'keep' implies guarding and retaining something securely.

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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