Keep one´s own counsel

[Johnyxxx]

Hi,

I would like to ask if keep something to oneself and keep one´s own counsel mean essentially one and the same thing.


Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

No, they don't mean the same thing and are not used in the same way.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-keep-something-to-yourself

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/keep-ones-own-counsel

 

[J&K Tutoring]

No, they don't mean the same thing and are not used in the same way.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-keep-something-to-yourself

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/keep-ones-own-counsel

It's true that they don't mean the same thing and they are not used in the same way, but that does not mean that they cannot mean the same thing.

From jutfrank's links:
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If you 'keep something to yourself', you do not tell anyone else about it.

If you 'keep your own counsel', you keep quiet about your opinions or intentions.​

What if the "something" you keep to yourself is your opinions or intentions? We can imagine a Venn Diagram with some overlap of these two things.​

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