PhrasesHub

keep it under wraps

    Definitions

      • keep something secret
        To keep something hidden or confidential, to not reveal or disclose information to others

      • maintain control
        To maintain control over a situation, to keep something in order or manage it effectively

    Examples of keep it under wraps

    • The company's new product launch will have to be kept under wraps until the official announcement.

      This means that the product will be kept secret and not revealed to the public or competitors until the company is ready to make an official announcement.

    • My friend has asked me to keep her engagement a secret for now.

      This means that my friend wants me to not share her engagement news with anyone else until she is ready to make a formal announcement.

    • The team's strategies for the upcoming competition will have to be kept under wraps to avoid giving competitors an advantage.

      This means that the team's plans and tactics for the competition will be kept confidential to prevent opponents from preparing accordingly.

    • The artist's upcoming album release will be kept under wraps until the day of the release.

      This means that the artist will not reveal any details about the album, such as the title, tracklist, or release date, until the day of the release to create excitement and anticipation among fans.

    • The director asked the cast and crew to keep the plot twist of the upcoming movie a secret and to keep it under wraps until the release date.

      This idiom means to keep something confidential and not reveal it to others until the appropriate time. It originated from the practice of keeping valuable items wrapped and hidden to prevent theft or discovery. When used in this context, it suggests that the plot twist of the movie is important and needs to be protected until its intended release. The director is asking the cast and crew to honor this request out of respect for the movie's marketing strategy and to prevent spoilers from leaking out to the public.

    • The CEO instructed the marketing team to keep the upcoming product launch under wraps until the official announcement.

      This idiom is used to mean keeping something secret and not revealing it to others before a specific point in time. In this example, the CEO wants to keep the details of the product launch confidential until the company is ready to make a formal announcement.

    • Sarah's boyfriend proposed to her in a private setting, and she promised to keep the engagement under wraps until they had a chance to share the news with their families.

      In this example, Sarah is pledging to keep the news of her engagement a secret until she and her partner have had a chance to inform their loved ones.

    • During the trial, the prosecution instructed the jurors to keep the details of the case under wraps until the verdict was announced.

      In this example, the jurors were asked to maintain secrecy about the evidence and testimony presented during the trial until a final decision was reached.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "keep it under wraps" is used to either mean keeping something secret or maintaining control over a situation. It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as in a professional setting to keep confidential information private, or in a personal context to manage a situation effectively without allowing it to become chaotic.

    Overall, the idiom is a versatile way to communicate the need for secrecy or control in a situation.

    Origin of "keep it under wraps"

    The origin of the idiom "keep it under wraps" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The term "wraps" refers to the act of covering or concealing something, and the idiom likely evolved from this literal meaning to convey the idea of keeping something hidden or controlled. The use of "wraps" in this idiom may also stem from the idea of wrapping something up to protect or contain it.

    An example of the idiom in use can be found in a 1920s newspaper article, where it was used to describe the need for secrecy in a business deal. Over time, the idiom has become a common way to express the need for confidentiality or control in various situations.