seal somebody’s lips

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you help to me to make the proper choice of the meaning of the expressions in bold in the following sentences?

And there and then began to form in his mind a plan by which he could escape exposure and seal Roberta Alden’s lips forever. (Th. Dreiser, “An American Tragedy”)

……….. his lips were sealed and would open only to say whatever Cowperwood desired him to say. (Th. Dreiser, “The Stoic“)

Erich banged on the table with his gun and shouted for the guards…. “Captain Andreyev’s lips are sealed. Take care of him and return him to me in a half hour.” (M. Dodd, “Showing the Wind”)

seal somebody’s lips = put someone to silence, stop someone’s mouth

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

[5jj]

seal somebody’s lips = put someone to silence, stop someone’s mouth

The expression is more commonly used in the passive, to suggest that someone has agreed/decided not to say a word about something.