1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To live in a private way, avoiding close contact or sharing personal information with neighbours or colleagues.
"He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself — the neighbours barely knew him."
keep oneself to oneself
B2 neutral intransitive
To avoid socialising with others and to not share personal information; to live or behave in a private and self-contained way.
In plain English
To stay out of other people's business and not mix with them much.
What does "keep oneself to oneself" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Predominantly British English. Used to describe someone who is private and does not seek the company of neighbours or colleagues. Neutral in tone — not necessarily negative. Often used by neighbours describing someone they don't know well.
Words that pair with "keep oneself to oneself"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
neighbour quiet private reserved shy introverted
How to conjugate "keep oneself to oneself"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
keep oneself to oneself
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keeps oneself to oneself
he/she/it
Past simple
kept oneself to oneself
yesterday
Past participle
kept oneself to oneself
have + pp
-ing form
keeping oneself to oneself
continuous
Hear "keep oneself to oneself" in the wild
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Other ways to say "keep oneself to oneself"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
be a private person be reserved keep to oneself mind one's own business not socialise much stay to oneself
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