(as) quiet as a mouse

(as) quiet as a mouse

Silent, meek, and gentle. I just can't believe that Kate actually yelled at Mike—she's usually as quiet as a mouse! We remained as quiet as mice to avoid being detected by the guards.See also: mouse, quiet

*quiet as a (church) mouse and *quiet as the grave

very quiet. (*Also: as ~.) You'd better be as quiet as a mouse while Grandma takes her nap so you won't wake her up. This town is quiet as the grave now that the factories have closed.See also: and, grave, mouse, quiet

quiet as a mouse

Also, still as a mouse. Silent, without noise, as in She sneaked into the house, quiet as a mouse, or When he heard the news he was still as a mouse. The first of these similes dates from the mid-1500s, the second from the 1300s. See also: mouse, quiet

quiet as a mouse

If someone is quiet as a mouse, they are very quiet or silent. During the day Mom was quiet as a mouse. She hardly said or did anything. We were quiet as mice, hiding in there.See also: mouse, quiet

quiet as a mouse (or lamb)

(of a person or animal) extremely quiet or docile. 1982 Robertson Davies The Rebel Angels I shall be as quiet as a mouse. I'll just tuck my box…in this corner, right out of your way. See also: mouse, quiet

(as) quiet as a ˈmouse

(of a person) saying very little or making very little noise: He’s quiet as a mouse in class. ♢ Be as quiet as a mouse when you go upstairs — the baby’s asleep in our bedroom.See also: mouse, quiet

quiet as a mouse

Hushed, subdued. This simile dates from the sixteenth century and presumably refers to the behavior of a mouse that stops dead in its tracks at the approach of a cat and remains as quiet as possible, hoping to avoid notice. Also put as still as a mouse, it has been repeated again and again, outliving the still older (fourteenth century) quiet as a lamb. See also: mouse, quiet