[General] seal somebody’s lips

Status
Not open for further replies.

vil

Key Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Bulgarian
Home Country
Bulgaria
Current Location
Bulgaria
Dear teachers,

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

[FONT=&quot]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”)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]……….. his lips were sealed and would open only to say whatever Cowperwood desired him to say. (Th. Dreiser, “The Stoic“)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]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”)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]seal somebody’s lips = put someone to silence, stop someone’s mouth[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
[FONT=&quot]seal somebody’s lips = put someone to silence, stop someone’s mouth[/FONT]
The expression is more commonly used in the passive, to suggest that someone has agreed/decided not to say a word about something.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vil
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top