quiet as a mouse
Meaning
Extremely quiet; making almost no sound.
Origin
A simile comparing someone’s silence to a mouse, an animal that survives by moving stealthily and making little noise. Variants like “as quiet as a mouse” have been used in English for centuries.
Notes
A common, informal simile for being extremely quiet, often used to tell someone not to make noise or to describe a room suddenly becoming silent.
Examples
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The baby was quiet as a mouse once she finally fell asleep.
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We were quiet as a mouse as we tiptoed past Dad’s office during his video call.
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During the exam, the classroom was quiet as a mouse.
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He sat quiet as a mouse in the back row, hoping the teacher wouldn’t call on him.
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When the deer appeared, everyone went quiet as a mouse to avoid scaring it away.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually appears as a simile: “(as) quiet as a mouse.” Often after linking verbs (be/seem/keep/stay) or as a complement (“went quiet as a mouse”). Article is fixed as “a mouse.”
Synonyms
- very quiet
- as silent as the grave
- silent as the grave
- quiet as a church mouse
Antonyms
- loud as hell
- noisy
- boisterous