# Why is mum the word?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 7, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224 "2007-12-07T21:35:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/21 "2007-12-10T07:36:19Z")

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Because mum also means mother in the UK, it enabled this poster to be used in WW2 :- [Be Like Dad, Keep Mum](http://www.ww2poster.co.uk/posters/imagebank/keepmummultiple.htm)

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/22 "2007-12-10T13:43:12Z")

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[QUOTE=mangeorge]  
Thunderbird!  
[/QUOTE]

[Told ya!](http://www.bumwine.com/tbird.html)  
Second paragraph.  
Contest over.  
😛  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/23 "2007-12-10T13:48:06Z")

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[QUOTE=Johanna]  
I always thought the bird’s the word.  
[/QUOTE]

You must be talking about [this](http://www.rockabilly.nl/lyrics4/s0130.htm) very deep and meaningful classic.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/24 "2007-12-11T03:04:58Z")

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[QUOTE=mangeorge]  
You must be talking about [this](http://www.rockabilly.nl/lyrics4/s0130.htm) very deep and meaningful classic.  
Peace,  
mangeorge  
[/QUOTE]

_“Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!”_

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mum-the-word/429224/25 "2007-12-11T03:37:22Z")

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[QUOTE=Johanna]  
_“Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!”_  
[/QUOTE]

they will for sure, after listening to that, uh, classic. 🙂

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