Dictionary

loose lips sink ships en · X

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˈlus ˈlɪps ˈsɪŋk ˈʃɪps/

Etymology

Shortening of a wartime slogan from World War II.

Meanings

1. Saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences.
   • Loose Lips Sink Ships, said the wartime poster. Of course the ships will all sink anyway, sooner or later. 2000, Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin, Anchor, published 2007, →ISBN, page 448:
   • ‘Loose lips sink ships,’ she spat at Dad once, when they were arguing about Grandpa, but ‘loose lips killed our son.’ 2014, Crystal Chan, Bird, Random House, →ISBN, page 59:

Relateds

loose-lipped

Translations (9)

es palabra de boca, piedra de honda (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · mn амсар сэтэрхий аяганд цай бүү хий, ам сул хүнд нууцаа бүү дэлгэ (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · es por la boca muere el pez (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · es palabra y piedra suelta no tiene vuelta (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · cmn 禍從口出 /祸从口出 (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · fi älä puhu sivu suun (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · pt o peixe morre pela boca (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · pl nieostrożne gadanie zatapia statki (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences) · fr propos inconsidérés, bateaux coulés (saying too much or releasing confidential information can have dangerous consequences)