Keep It Under Your Hat – Meaning Of This Expression
KEEP IT UNDER YOUR HAT – In this topic, we are going to know the meaning and a bit of history of the expression “Keep It Under Your Hat”.
We all have heard of this expression before and in many versions. But what does it actually mean?
Meaning
It basically means to keep it secret or do not mention the thing someone told you to anyone else.
The expression is a bit strange since it is odd to keep certain things under our own hats, if we have any. If it did, why is it akin to keeping it a secret? Here is why.
Origin
According to Phrases, the most repeated theory of where it came from are archers, English archers, to be exact. In the Medieval times, archers tend to store spare bowstrings under their hats. This is to keep them dry.
However, this theory is still far-fetched since, keeping things dry is a totally complete thing than keeping it a secret.
An even more accurate origin is hat is associated with head since, under your hat means “in your head”, The simple meaning of this expression is to “keep it in your head”, in which it is way closer to secrecy since we have all kept secrets in our own heads.
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