Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Adjective Phrase number 36.
The adjective phrase today is tight-lipped. Okay. Let's look at the note
here. If a person is tight-lipped he or she is unwilling to speak about
something. Someone could also be tight-lipped by making a facial
expression in which one's lips are pressed very tightly usually done to
hold in or suppress anger. Like mmm They are really really angry, they want to let it
out. But they're trying to keep their lips closed like mmm you know, when they're
trying to hold it in. Okay. Good. So let's continue. The origin of this phrase dates
all the way back to the 16th century. At that time, if someone was tight with
money and we could still say that today that somebody's tight with money they're
unwilling to spend it. He or she was unwilling to spend it. This is also
related to the expression today of tightwad. Yeah. We do use tightwad today. I
mean that's a person who we think of as cheap. But they do have money. They
probably have like a wad of money in their pocket. You know, a wad is when you
have like you know, I don't know 30 or 40 bills all in a pile together. That would
be like a wad. So a tightwad they have money. But they are tight. They, they don't want
to take any of those bills out. Okay. Good. All right. So let's, let's continue here.
Over time, the phrase of tight lipped passed on to those who are unwilling to
speak. So first people said that one was tight with one's lips and it evolved
into tight lipped. So, so it came directly from like somebody being tight with
money as well. All right. Good. And we just have you know,
several examples here. Well. Let's look at the first one.
Many people are tight-lipped if if you ask them how much money they make. . Yes. Or
how much money they earn. A lot of people will suddenly become
tight-lipped. They don't want to talk about that. Or number two here you could
say I know Jesse is dating someone again but when I asked her about about it , she
seemed to be very tight-lipped. I wonder who it could be ? You know, now it makes it
more mysterious. Maybe you want to know more. Oh she's not telling me. I wonder
who could this be? All right. Anyway number three here. You could tell Sarah was
angry. She had a tight-lipped expression on her face. All right. So this one has to
do with the you know, pressing your lips together meaning. Okay. Good. And the last one
here. Number four. The movie studio was tight-lipped about the plot. They don't
want to say anything until the premiere. Until at least it's shown for the first
time. You know, by that time everyone will know of course. But they didn't want to
let the plot out well before time. They were tight-lipped about it. Okay. Anyway I hope
you got it. I hope it was clear. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.