Воды в рот набрал
Vody v rot nabral
Word-for-word
"Took water into the mouth"
English equivalent
"To be struck dumb / To keep mum"
What does it mean?
To remain stubbornly silent when asked a question or pressured to speak.
Example in use
Russian
Я спрашиваю его, где деньги, а он будто воды в рот набрал.
Translation
I ask him where the money is, and he is just keeping mum.
When to use
Use this when someone refuses to talk or explain themselves. It is often used when the silence is seen as annoying, guilty, or intentional.
Origin & cultural note
This image is very vivid. It implies the person has physically filled their mouth to prevent speech. It is a common expression used in offices, families, and classrooms to describe the "silent treatment".
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