þegja þunnu hljóði

Etymology
From +  the  of  +  the  of. Literally meaning "to be silent with a thin hearing" meaning "to be silent with an ear so thin that one can listen well".

The proverb is a reference to (quotation of) the seventh verse of the Hávamál, one of the books of the Poetic Edda.


 * Hávamál verse 7 in updated (Icelandic) spelling
 * Inn vari gestur,
 * er til verðar kemur,
 * þunnu hljóði þegir,
 * eyrum hlýðir,
 * en augum skoðar;
 * svo nýsist fróðra hver fyrir.
 * English
 * Let the wary stranger who seeks refreshment
 * keep silent with sharpened hearing;
 * with his ears let him listen, and look with his eyes;
 * thus each wise man spies out the way.
 * English
 * A guest should be courteous
 * When he comes to the table
 * And sit in wary silence,
 * His ears attentive, his eyes alert:
 * So he protects himself.
 * English
 * The knowing guest
 * who goes to the feast,
 * In silent attention sits;
 * With his ears he hears,
 * with his eyes he watches,
 * Thus wary are wise men all.

Verb

 * 1) to hold one’s tongue, to say nothing even though one is divided or not happy about something; to be silent even though one is unreconciled, but be still unreconciled; to keep a watchful silence; to listen in breathless stillness (confer the English  and )