英语短语"keep one's own counsel"的核心含义是:不向他人透露自己的想法、计划或观点;保持沉默(尤指因不想被他人影响或不想暴露立场);守口如瓶。
keep:保持、坚守;
one's own counsel:此处的counsel不是“律师”(其常见义),而是古义的“内心的想法、计划、意见”(相当于thoughts, plans, or opinions)。
短语字面可理解为“守住自己的想法”,引申为不把内心的打算或观点告诉别人,强调“谨慎、不轻易表露立场”。
1、 主语与所有格搭配:
根据主语调整“one's”的形式(my/your/his/her/our/their),例如:
I keep my own counsel.(我不轻易表露想法。)
She keeps her own counsel.(她守口如瓶。)
They keep their own counsel.(他们不透露自己的计划。)
2、 常见场景:
用于描述某人在面对争议、决策或隐私问题时,选择不分享自己的观点或计划,避免被干扰或暴露立场。
When the team was debating the new project, John kept his own counsel—he wanted to think it over before speaking.
(当团队讨论新项目时,约翰保持沉默——他想先考虑清楚再发言。)
She’s always kept her own counsel about her past; no one knows much about where she came from.
(关于她的过去,她总是守口如瓶;没人知道她的来历。)
In negotiations, it’s wise to keep your own counsel until you’re sure of the other side’s position.
(谈判中,在确定对方立场前,不透露自己的想法是明智的。)
He prefers to keep his own counsel rather than get involved in office gossip.
(他更愿意守口如瓶,而不是参与办公室 gossip。)
近义词:keep quiet(沉默)、hold one's tongue(管住嘴)、keep to oneself(独处/不与人来往);
注:"keep one's own counsel"更强调“不透露内心想法”,而不是单纯“沉默”。
反义词:speak one's mind(直言不讳)、share one's thoughts(分享想法)、open up(倾诉)。
"keep one's own counsel"是一个形容人谨慎、内敛的短语,适用于描述“不轻易表露立场或隐私”的场景。记住它的核心:守住自己的想法,不告诉别人。