hide one's light under a bushel

Idioms and Phrases

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]