tight-lipped

[ tahyt-lipt ]

adjective

1. speaking very little; taciturn; close-mouthed.
2. having the lips drawn tight.

tight-lipped

adjective

1. reticent, secretive, or taciturn
2. with the lips pressed tightly together, as through anger

Word History and Origins

Origin of tight-lipped¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Major League Baseball, though, is still being tight-lipped about what the end of the embargo might mean for the sport.

From The Daily Beast

Missy also gets a bit tight-lipped when it comes to her personal life.

From The Daily Beast

The actress is tight-lipped about the final season of ‘Mad Men.’

From The Daily Beast

Everybody involved in assisting the Malaysians has been very tight-lipped about what is going on.

From The Daily Beast

Still, not everyone was as tight lipped about poverty on the lower rungs of ladder as Obama was.

From The Daily Beast

Most of these were workmen of some kind or other, called in to help the lab crew as needed, but all of them were tight-lipped.

From Project Gutenberg

A slightly sardonic grimace wrinkled his tight-lipped mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, very tight-lipped, he issued out beneath the awning, where among the Malays a whispering buzz of talk was forward.

From Project Gutenberg

He gave not only Jack's lilt and phraseology, but his facial changes and rather prim, tight-lipped smile.

From Project Gutenberg

Tight-lipped, using her flashlight, she ran through the kitchen.

From Project Gutenberg