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being secretive

[/ˈbiːɪŋ sɪˈkrɛtɪv/]
gerund/noun phrase
ser secreto/reservado
1. the act or quality of keeping information hidden or not revealing one's thoughts, feelings, or activities
His being secretive about his plans made everyone suspicious.
Ser secreto sobre seus planos fez todos ficarem desconfiados.
2. demonstrating a tendency to hide things or maintain privacy
Being secretive is not a good approach to building trust in relationships.
Ser reservado não é uma boa abordagem para construir confiança nos relacionamentos.
NYC Slang
keeping it on the down-low, playing it close to the vest, being hush-hush
Synonyms
being mysteriousbeing evasivebeing guardedbeing clandestinebeing discreetconcealingwithholding
Antonyms
being openbeing transparentbeing candidbeing frankbeing forthcomingdisclosingrevealing

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser secreto/ser reservado
most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
ficar na sua/guardar segredo
informal colloquial usage
Rio de Janeiro
ser fechado
colloquial term meaning to be closed off or secretive
Portugal
ser secreto/ser discreto
more formal usage; discreto is commonly used in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

keeping cards close to one's chest
keeping one's lips sealed
under wraps
playing one's cards close to the vest
mum's the word
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