keep it in the family
The phrase "keep it in the family" is used to describe actions or decisions that are restricted to family members, often to preserve confidentiality, ownership, or tradition.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)To ensure that information or a secret is only shared among family members and not disclosed to outsiders.
Example
- They decided to keep the news of the inheritance in the family.
B2Business
(idiomatic)To maintain ownership, control, or management of a business or property within the family lineage.
Example
- The company has been kept in the family for three generations.
B2Tradition
(idiomatic)To pass down items, traditions, or values from one family member to another, preserving family heritage.
Example
- They have kept the family recipe in the family for years.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "keep it in the family":