Mum's the word
Mum's the word means keep this secret, or promise not to tell anyone. Its link with Shakespeare comes from a call for silence in Henry VI, Part 2, though that passage uses different wording. Mum is an old word meaning silent.
Where it comes from
An older word for silence
Mum has long meant silent, rather than mother, in this expression. A related call for secrecy appears in Shakespeare, but the familiar phrase is not his exact wording there.
In Henry VI, Part 2, Hume reminds himself to keep quiet after arranging for the Duchess of Gloucester to consult people who promise to summon a spirit.
In Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare
A request or promise today
Today the phrase can ask someone to keep a secret or reassure them that nothing will be revealed. It usually sounds informal and sometimes playful.
In Treasure Island, Jim stays hidden in an apple barrel while he overhears Silver discussing mutiny. His silence illustrates the phrase's meaning, although the phrase is not being quoted from that scene.
In Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
How to use Mum's the word
- Use it when asking for secrecy or promising silence.
- Keep it for informal conversations, such as planning a surprise.
- Choose clearer words when confidentiality is serious.
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Does mum mean mother in this phrase?
No, mum here means silent, not mother. It is an older use of the word that survives in expressions about keeping quiet. The phrase asks someone to say nothing about a particular matter.
Is Mum's the word an exact Shakespeare quotation?
No, it is not the exact wording of the related passage in Henry VI, Part 2. Hume tells himself to keep his lips closed and remain silent. Shakespeare uses the older word mum, but the familiar modern phrase should not be presented as that passage's exact words.
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