When I was a child we an antique wind-up gramophone player.  It came with a little box of needles, and I remember you had to change the needle on the stylus every time you played a record! It also had no volume control, and you did indeed have to stuff an old cloth into the box to muffle the sound if you wanted it to play more quietly.

The idiom 'put a sock in it' lasted longer than gramophone players did, but my impression is that it's very rarely used these days. I'm not surprised that Paul has never heard the expression, and I'd imagine that most other younger people are likewise unaware of it.

Thank you for reminding us about this charming idiom, Richard.

@"it is an impolite way of telling someone to be quiet"

Hmm, maybe aggressive is a better word than impolite. It's very imperative. "Shut the hell up is impolite."

@"Dahaneto gel begeer"

Definitely putting this one in my notebook.

@"It's impolite to use it though."

That's why I like it :P

Max... you asked a good question.

From strong (impolite) to polite, one could say:

- shut up!!!

- be quiet!

- Turn down the volume/don't speak so loudly

- Please turn down the volume/please don't speak so loudly

Hope this helps...