"Public silence"

[1235]

"Public silence from his abductors has added to fears about his fate". please tell me in this sentence what is meaning of "Public silence"

[5jj]

]They have made no public announcements; they have not contacted the police or the press.

[leonardoatt]

"suffocation" may be a good definition.

[SoothingDave]

"suffocation" may be a good definition.

No, it's not.

[leonardoatt]

Why not?

[riquecohen]

"suffocation" may be a good definition.

Suffocation is generally a cause of death in which the deceased has suffered from a deprivation of oxygen. How does this relate to public silence?

[leonardoatt]

"Public silence" means people can not talk because of an obligation which has been applied by a government or someone very great.when you can't talk it means you are unable to breathe.
I don't mean this is the best definition for that phrase but it relates to it.

[SoothingDave]

This isn't talking about silence imposed by an authority like a government. This is self-imposed silence by the kidnappers, by their choice.

If someone orders you not to speak, it can be called a "gag order." But not suffocation.

[leonardoatt]

Okay.Maybe you are right.

[5jj]

Thers's no 'maybe' about it. riquecohen is right. 'Suffocation' is totally inappropriate here.