Keep sth to yourself Meaning, Examples & How to Use

What Does “Keep sth to yourself” Mean?

“Keep something to yourself” means to not tell anyone about a secret or private information. It is used when you want someone to stay quiet about something.

Introduction

The phrase “keep sth to yourself” is a common English expression used to ask or advise someone not to share information with others. The “sth” stands for “something,” which can be any kind of secret, opinion, or personal detail. When you keep something to yourself, you choose to stay silent about it. This phrase is often used in everyday conversations, especially when trust or privacy is important. Understanding the “keep sth to yourself meaning” helps English learners communicate clearly about confidentiality and discretion.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: keep something to yourself
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to not tell others a secret or private information

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Keep sth to yourself” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (“something”) between “keep” and “to yourself.”

• Keep something to yourself (correct)
• Keep to yourself something (less common, avoid)

Typical structure: keep + object + to yourself

How to Use “Keep sth to yourself”?

Use this phrase when you want to advise or ask someone not to share a secret or private information. It is often used in informal and formal contexts. You can say it directly or politely, depending on the situation.

For example, if a friend tells you a secret, you can say, “Please keep this to yourself.” It shows you trust them to not tell others.

Examples

Imagine your friend told you they are planning a surprise party. You want to keep the secret safe.

• Can you keep this to yourself? It’s a surprise for Jenny.
• I promised to keep what she said to myself.
• Sometimes, it’s better to keep your opinions to yourself to avoid arguments.
• He decided to keep the news to himself until everything was confirmed.
• Please keep what I told you to yourself. It’s very important.

Common Mistakes

People often confuse this phrase with similar expressions or use it incorrectly.

• Incorrect: Keep to yourself the secret.
• Correct: Keep the secret to yourself.
• Incorrect: I keep it to myselfs.
• Correct: I keep it to myself.

Remember, “yourself” does not change form, and the object should come right after “keep.”

Differences / Synonyms

There are similar phrases like “keep it secret,” “hold back,” or “keep quiet.”

• Keep it secret: Focuses more on confidentiality but less conversational.
• Hold back: Often used to describe emotions or information withheld.
• Keep quiet: Means to not talk, but not always about secrets.

“Keep sth to yourself” is more personal and emphasizes not sharing information with others.

Common Collocations

We often use “keep sth to yourself” with words related to personal or sensitive information.

• Secret: A private fact or information.
• Opinion: A personal view or belief.
• News: Information about recent events.
• Feelings: Emotional states or thoughts.
• Plans: Arrangements or intentions.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sth to yourself:

• Keep Sb Off Sth
• Keep Sth Off Sth
• Keep Sth On Sth
• Keep Sb From Sth
• Keep Sb Out Of Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “keep sth to yourself”:

Anna: I heard that Mark is moving to Canada next month.

John: Really? Thanks for telling me. I’ll keep it to myself.

Anna: Please do! It’s not public yet.

Practice

Choose the correct sentence using “keep sth to yourself”:

• A) Please keep to yourself the surprise party plans.
• B) Please keep the surprise party plans to yourself.
• C) Please keep the surprise party plans yourself.

Answer: B

FAQs

• Q: Can I use “keep sth to yourself” in formal writing?

  A: Yes, but it is more common in spoken and informal English.
• Q: Is “keep sth to yourself” separable?

  A: Yes, the object goes between “keep” and “to yourself.”

• Q: Can I say “keep yourself something” instead?

  A: No, that is incorrect. The correct form is “keep something to yourself.”
• Q: What if I want to say “don’t tell anyone” in a different way?

  A: You can say “keep it secret,” “don’t tell anyone,” or “keep quiet about it.”

• Q: Is “sth” used in speaking?

  A: No, “sth” is a written abbreviation for “something.”