To avoid utilizing or emphasizing one's talents. Don't give up drawing! You're a talented artist and shouldn't hide your light under a bushel.See also: bushel, hide, light
hide one's light under a bushel
Fig. to conceal one's good ideas or talents. (A biblical theme.) Jane has some good ideas, but she doesn't speak very often. She hides her light under a bushel.Don't hide your light under a bushel. Share your thoughts with other people.See also: bushel, hide, light
hide one's light under a bushel
Show extreme modesty, as in Even after Paul won the scholarship be went on hiding his light under a bushel. This expression, which does not necessarily express approval of this behavior, has its origin in the New Testament (Matthew 5:15): "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick." [Early 1600s] See also: bushel, hide, light
hide one's light under a bushel, to
To conceal one’s talents; to be extremely modest. The term comes from the Bible (Matthew 5:15): “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick.” The bushel in question was not presumably the unit of weight so called but the container that would hold it—in other words, a bushel basket. Although modesty is generally considered a desirable trait, those who have used this expression over the centuries do not necessarily extol or even recommend it. See also: hide, lightSee also:
to conceal one's good ideas or talents. (A biblical theme.) • Jane has some good ideas, but she doesn't speak very often. She hides her light under a bushel. • Don't hide your light under a bushel. Share your gifts with other people.
hide one's light under a bushel|bushel|hide|light
v. phr. To be very shy and modest and not show your abilities or talents; be too modest in letting others see what you can do. When Joan is with her close friends she has a wonderful sense of humor, but usually she hides her light under a bushel.Mr. Smith is an expert in many fields, but most people think he is not very smart because he hides his light under a bushel.All year long Tommy hid his light under a bushel and the teacher was surprised to see how much he knew when she read his exam paper.