total silence

collocation in English

meaningsoftotalandsilence

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withsilence.
total
adjective
uk
/ˈtəʊ.təl/us
/ˈtoʊ.t̬əl/
including ...
See more attotal
silence
noun
uk
/ˈsaɪ.ləns/us
/ˈsaɪ.ləns/
a period without any sound; ...
See more atsilence

(Definition oftotalandsilencefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesoftotal silence

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
The play would be acted intotalsilence, with only movements and sound effects left to indicate what was happening.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The pupils focused intotalsilenceas even this sound died away.
From theCambridge English Corpus
As the play unfolded before them intotalsilence, their violent intentions turned first to bewilderment and eventually to disinterest, as they drifted away during the third act.
From theCambridge English Corpus
His speech was heard in almosttotalsilence.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
The noise then diminishes back intototalsilenceuntil the next train in about 15 minutes or so.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
On this front there has beentotalsilence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I understand that there wastotalsilenceon that subject in the other place.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I heard—or rather, did not hear—the astonishing, uneasy,totalsilencethat pervaded the camp.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Only from one quarter has there beentotalsilence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
No experienced parliamentarian expects or wishes our proceedings to be conducted intotalsilence, nor do we expect it.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
However, that was followed bytotalsilence, until this year.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There istotalsilence, for example, on the issues of economic growth, migration, town planning, the environment and the elderly.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
As to the other half of the economy there istotalsilenceand a complete absence of information.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I hope that that does not mean that we shall be carrying out our business intotalsilence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But to live in a world of total darkness andtotalsilencemust be a daily trial taxing the deepest of human courage and resources.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But we have hadtotalsilenceon that matter for two and a half hours.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They are deaf and blind, living in a world oftotalsilenceand darkness.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We look forward to enlightenment on that point, on which for the moment there istotalsilence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
All of a sudden, there istotalsilenceon the farm.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I would have suffered my disappointment intotalsilencehad it not been for some of what my noble friend has just said.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition oftotal
Go to the definition ofsilence
See other collocations withsilence