play it close to the hip

verb

To behave conservatively and discreetly.

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Meanings

verbplay it close to the hip (third-person singular simple present plays it close to the hip, present participle playing it close to the hip, simple past and past participle played it close to the hip)

present singular third person plays it close to the hip · participle present playing it close to the hip · participle past played it close to the hip · past played it close to the hip

  1. To behave conservatively and discreetly.

    Rin would play this close to the hip. No way would he show his hand so soon.

    2017, Kate Baxter, The Lost Vampire
    2 more examples

    Goodman wanted to play it close to the hip by starting the evening out with his more commercial arrangements—which fell flat with the audience; however, when he launched the band into Fletcher Henderson's arrangement of "King Porter Stomp," the fans went wild.

    2013, Michael Stephans, Experiencing Jazz: A Listener's Companion, page 101

    If I opened my mouth a string of accusations would fly out and if I didn't play it close to the hip, I'd ruin any chances I might have at coaxing some information out of him.

    2015, Amanda Bonilla, Shadows at Midnight
Cite this entry
APA

play it close to the hip. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20it%20close%20to%20the%20hip

MLA

“play it close to the hip.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20it%20close%20to%20the%20hip. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “play it close to the hip,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20it%20close%20to%20the%20hip.

Source: play it close to the hip on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.