chest

keep (something) close to (one's) chest

To keep one's plans, intentions, or tactics secret from everyone else. Refers to holding one's playing cards close to one's chest in a card game, so as not to allow other players to see one's hand. We're all curious about what the boss has been discussing in those meetings with the lawyers, but she's keeping it close to her chest. Sorry for not being more straightforward about my plans, but I'm keeping this one close to the chest for the time being.

play (one's) cards close to (one's) chest

To keep one's plans, intentions, or tactics secret from everyone else. Refers to holding one's playing cards close to one's chest in a card game, so as not to allow other players to see one's hand. We're all curious about what the boss has been discussing in those meetings with the lawyers, but she's playing her cards close to her chest. Sorry for not being more straightforward about my plans, but I'm playing my cards close to my chest for the time being.

play (something) close to (one's) chest

To keep one's plans, intentions, or tactics secret from everyone else. Refers to holding one's playing cards close to one's chest in a card game, so as not to allow other players to see one's hand. We're all curious about what the boss has been discussing in those meetings with the lawyers, but she's playing it close to her chest. Sorry for not being more straightforward about my plans, but I'm playing this one close to the chest for the time being.

hope chest

1. A piece of furniture used to store household items such as clothing and linens. The antique store had a beautiful cedar hope chest that would be a perfect addition to my bedroom furniture.

2. A young woman's collection of household items to use in her home after marriage. Sarah collected linens and sheets for her hope chest in anticipation of her new life as a married woman.

get something off one's chest

to unburden oneself; to confess something; to criticize or make a personal complaint to someone. You will feel better if you get it off your chest. I have to get this off my chest. I'm tired of your rudeness to me!

See also: chest, get, off

play one's cards close to one's chest

and play one's cards close to one's vest; keep one's cards close to one's chest; keep one's cards close to one's vest

Fig. to keep to oneself or be very cautious in one's dealing with people. (As if one were playing cards and not permitting anyone to see any of the cards.) He is very cautious. He plays his cards close to his chest. You seem to be playing your cards close to your vest.

put hair on someone's chest

Fig. to do or take something to invigorate or energize someone, always a male, except in jest. Here, have a drink of this stuff! It'll put hair on your chest. That stuff is powerful. It will really put hair on your chest.

get something off your chest

to tell someone about something that has been worrying you I sometimes discuss my problems with someone else just to get them off my chest.

See also: chest, get, off

keep/play your cards close to your chest

to not tell anyone what you plan to do I never know what Martin's next move will be. He plays his cards close to his chest.

get it off your chest

to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time, in order to make you feel better It was something that had been bothering me for some time and it felt good to get it off my chest.

See also: chest, get, off

put hair(s) on your chest

(humorous)

if you say that food or drink will put hair on someone's chest, you mean that the food will make them strong and healthy or that the drink is very alcoholic Here, have a swig of this. That should put hair on your chest!

a hope chest

(American)

the things a young woman collects to use in her home after she is married Gloria spent the next few months embroidering sheets for her hope chest.

off one's chest, get

Relieve one's mind by confessing or saying something that has been repressed. For example, I've got to get this off my chest-I can't stand his parents, or He admitted taking the dollar and said he was glad to get it off his chest. This expression uses chest for the seat of the emotions. [c. 1900]

play it close to one's chest

Be secretive or cautious, give nothing away, as in We've no idea how many tickets they sold; they play it close to their chests. This expression, which is also put as play one's cards close to one's chest, alludes to holding one's cards up against one's chest, so that no one else can see them. [Slang; mid-1900s]

put lead in one's pencil

Enhance or restore sexual vigor, as in Try one of these hot peppers; that'll put lead in your pencil. This phrase, a euphemism for causing an erection, is considered far more vulgar than the contemporary synonym put hair on one's chest, alluding to a secondary male sex characteristic. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

take the spear (in one’s chest)

tv. to accept full blame for something; to accept the full brunt of the punishment for something. The admiral got the short straw and had to take the spear in his chest.

war chest

n. a political campaign fund. They say the vice president has more than one million dollars in his war chest.

get (something) off (one's) chest

To vent one's pent-up feelings.

See also: chest, get, off

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Sesto	-	Italian
Eija	AY-yah	Finnish
Lalo	LAH-lo	Spanish
Magdalen	['mægdəlin]
Johanne	zho-AN (French), yo-HAHN-ne (Danish)	French, Danish, Norwegian, Medieval French
Urvi	-	Indian, Marathi, Gujarati