mum's the word

• “T is a rum business, and puzzles I; but mum's the word for my own little colquarren [neck].”

  Paul Clifford — Complete

• “P.S. -- I heard you once express a wish about a certain farm -- but mum's the word -- only this, I have something in my eye for you.”

  Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

• “No offence, young man, no offence,' said the landlord, in a quite altered tone; 'but the sight of your hand --' then observing that our conversation began to attract the notice of the guests in the kitchen, he interrupted himself, saying in an undertone, 'But mum's the word for the present, I will go and fetch the ale.”

  Lavengro; the Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

• “No offence, young man, no offence," said the landlord, in a quite altered tone; "but the sight of your hand ..." then observing that our conversation began to attract the notice of the guests in the kitchen, he interrupted himself, saying in an undertone, "But mum's the word for the present, I will go and fetch the ale.”

  Lavengro The Scholar - The Gypsy - The Priest, Vol. 2 (of 2)

• “No offence, young man, no offence," said the landlord, in a quite altered tone; "but the sight of your hand --," then observing that our conversation began to attract the notice of the guests in the kitchen, he interrupted himself, saying in an under tone, "But mum's the word for the present, I will go and fetch the ale.”

  Lavengro the Scholar - the Gypsy - the Priest

• “No offence, young man, no offence," said the landlord, in a quite altered tone; "but the sight of your hand --," then observing that our conversation began to attract the notice of the guests in the kitchen, he interrupted himself, saying in an undertone: "But mum's the word for the present, I will go and fetch the ale.”

  Lavengro The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

• “Then he says to the duke, "We got to jest swaller it and say noth'n ': mum's the word for US.”

  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• “Suddenly Dick rose for the second time from his dive, flung off the foam, tossed aside the baby, rescued the infant from impending destruction, and thundered "Silence! mum's the word for three minutes more.”

  The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands

• “He'd be wild if he knew, but mum's the word with William Stevens, hesquire.”

  The Firm of Girdlestone

• “Yes, of course, I understand," returned Jack; "therefore for the present ` mum's the word ', eh?”

  The Cruise of the Thetis A Tale of the Cuban Insurrection

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