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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

loosen someone's lips en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, informal) To cause one to speak more freely; to cause one to discuss a subject that would not usually be discussed.
    • Afterward, she was alone with Hammurabi in the operating room of the primate lab. She leaned against the green-tiled wall to relieve her fatigue. Perhaps exhaustion loosened her lips. She could no longer contain herself about the twins. 2011, J.E. Fishman, chapter 5, in Primacy, Verbitrage, page 27:
    • A goodly number of these officers gathered nightly at the Crown and Anchor, where drink often loosened their lips. Was this where the spy learned the movements of ships? 1994 August 14, Violet Hamilton, chapter 11, in Fabia's Choice, Zebra Books, page 144:
    • "I'll ask the DA to go easy on you. Maybe lower your charge to a misdemeanor with a fine." The sheriff acted like he was doing her a big favor, but Cody knew that was all they could charge her with anyway. However, the fear of jail was loosening her lips. 2008, Jeri Odell, chapter 14, in Until Tomorrow, Heartsong Presents, page 148:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
loosened someone's lips Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
loosened someone's lips Tense=Past lexicographic
loosens someone's lips Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
loosening someone's lips Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

out of the mouths of babes · in wine, there is truth · loose lips sink ships · in vino veritas

Synonyms

loosen someone's tongue

Translations (2)

fr délier la langue (to cause (someone) to be less cautious or more free in what they say) · hu megoldja a nyelvét (to cause (someone) to be less cautious or more free in what they say)