hush

Everyday

1. To hush someone is to make them be quiet or calm. tree →
2. As a command, «Hush!» means «Be quiet!». tree →
3. A hush is a sudden quiet, when everyone stops talking. tree →
4. To hush something up is to keep it secret so people do not find out, often something bad. tree →

In the lessons

In stories a hush often comes just before something important happens: «A hush fell over the room». Parents hush babies with lullabies («Hush, little baby»). In news and history «hush it up» means hiding a scandal. Phrases: «a hush fell», «hush up», «hush-hush» (informal, secret), «hush money».

Examples

• «Hush now, the baby's asleep,» whispered Dad. tree →
• A hush fell over the hall when the head teacher walked in. tree →
• Mum hushed us when the phone rang. tree →
• The company tried to hush up the accident. tree →
• «Hush, little baby, don't say a word» is an old lullaby. tree →
• The plan is all very hush-hush, so don't tell anyone. tree →
• In the hush of the forest we heard a woodpecker. tree →
• "Hush," said John, and he told her some more. tree →

Note

Past form «hushed». «A hushed voice» means a very quiet voice. «Hush-hush» is informal for «secret». «Hush money» is money paid to keep someone from telling a secret, which is often wrong or illegal. Countable as a noun only in «a hush».

In Jewish tradition

In stories a hush often comes just before something important happens: «A hush fell over the room». Parents hush babies with lullabies («Hush, little baby»). In news and history «hush it up» means hiding a scandal. Phrases: «a hush fell», «hush up», «hush-hush» (informal, secret), «hush money».

Examples

• The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. (Writings JOB.29.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form «hushed». «A hushed voice» means a very quiet voice. «Hush-hush» is informal for «secret». «Hush money» is money paid to keep someone from telling a secret, which is often wrong or illegal. Countable as a noun only in «a hush».