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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

a closed mouth gathers no feet en · X

Pronunciation

  • /ə ˈkloʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðɚz noʊ ˈfiːt/ (General-American)
  • /ə ˈkləʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðəz nəʊ ˈfiːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From put one's foot in one's mouth (“to say something embarrassing or wrong, or to make a mistake in public, or a social blunder, that is embarrassing or offensive”), adopting the structure of a rolling stone gathers no moss and a closed mouth catches no flies.

Meanings

  1. (humorous) One who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing.
    • Now disinflation is conventional wisdom on Wall Street, and Rutledge makes no apologies for his flamboyance: "A closed mouth gathers no feet," he says. 1987, Forbes, volume 139, New York, N.Y.: Forbes, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 71:
    • Or just keep your mouth shut. As sex therapist Marty Klein says, "A closed mouth gathers no feet." 1993 April, “The Playboy Advisor”, in Hugh M[arston] Hefner, editor, Playboy, volume 40, number 4, Chicago, Ill.: Playboy Enterprises, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 39, column 1:
    • So open your mouth to speak about what is good. And above all remember that "a closed mouth gathers no feet!" 1996, Marvin Phillips, “A Closed Mouth Gathers No Feet”, in Never Lick a Moving Blender!: Humorous Insights that Motivate and Encourage, West Monroe, La.: Howard Publishing, →ISBN; republished New York, N.Y.: Howard Books, 2010, →ISBN, page 72:
    • Bubba said he would like to go along. Leonard said, "That's okay, Bubba, but please allow me to do the talking. Remember, a closed mouth gathers no feet." 2001, Gary W. Carter, “The Role of a Tax Consultant”, in Getting Started in Tax Consulting, New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 21:
    • A closed mouth gathers no feet. 1972, American Eagle, San Francisco, Calif.: American Forest Products Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, column 2:
    • From the wall of a New York bar: "A closed mouth gathers no feet." 1958, “Wall Signs Dept.”, in Advertising Agency, volume 51, Bristol, Conn.: Moore Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 9:

Relateds

a closed mouth catches no flies

Translations (4)

es en boca cerrada no entran moscas (one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing) · sh šutnja je zlato (one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing) · fr ceux qui ne disent rien n’ont jamais tort (one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing) · pt em boca fechada não entra mosca (one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing)