Don’t give away any damaging secrets. Don’t make public anything that should
be kept private.

The proverb originated among children. To tell tales out of school was to
sneak – to try to keep on good terms with the teacher by betraying other
children. One of Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes runs:

> Tell-tale-tit,
> Your tongue shall be split,
> And all the dogs in the town
> Shall have a little bit.

##### See also:

* No names, no pack drill