For Individuals|For Teachers
Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Own Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

acqua in bocca

/ˈak.kwa im ˈbok.ka/
idiom★Intermediate◆idiom
informal

A phrase used to tell someone to keep a secret or not to reveal something they've just heard.

Ho un segreto da dirti, ma acqua in bocca!

I have a secret to tell you, but keep it to yourself!

Se ti dico chi ha vinto, acqua in bocca!

If I tell you who won, keep it a secret!

💡

This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to emphasize the importance of secrecy.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

chiudere il beccoidiom
to shut up
tenere la bocca chiusaidiom
to keep one's mouth shut

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

This phrase is typically used when sharing confidential information and is a friendly way to ask for discretion.

⚡Gold Rule

Secrecy Emphasis

The phrase is often used with an exclamation mark to stress the importance of keeping the information secret.

📖Word Origin

The phrase literally means 'water in the mouth,' which metaphorically suggests sealing the lips to keep something secret.

📝Usage Notes

This expression is widely used in everyday Italian to ask someone to keep quiet about something they've just learned.

Word Breakdown

acqua
water
root
+
bocca
mouth
root
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →