mince words en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˌmɪns ˈwəːʳɖz/ (India)
- /ˌmɪns ˈwʌɹdz/ (Scotland)
- audio AuE
- /ˌmɪns ˈwɜːdz/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌmɪns ˈwɜɹdz/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˌməns ˈwøːdz/ (New-Zealand)
- mĭns′ wûrdz′
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
From mince (“to say or utter vaguely (not directly or frankly)”, transitive figurative verb) + words. First attested in the mid-1500s.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, in the negative, intransitive) To restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:mince words.
Near-synonym: pull punches
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| minces words | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| mince one's words | alternative | lexicographic | |
| mince matters | alternative | lexicographic | |
| minced words | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| minced words | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| mincing words | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
minced oath · make no bones about · weigh one's words · word-mincer · mince matters
Synonyms
Translations (18)
pt não ter papas na língua (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · pl owijać w bawełnę (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · nl zonder omhaal van woorden (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · is vera ómyrkur í máli (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · ru говори́ть без обиняко́в (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · te నీళ్ళు నములు (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · fr ne pas mâcher ses mots (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · nl zich geen blad voor de mond nemen (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · de sich kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · it usare mezzi termini (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · ru говори́ть обиняка́ми (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · es no tener pelos en la lengua (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · is tala tæpitungulaust (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · nb ikke ta bladet for munnen (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · fi kierrellä (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · it pesare le parole (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · cmn 直言不諱 /直言不讳 (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.) · sv skräda orden (to restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.)