mince matters

Idioms  

1. Also, mince words. Moderate or restrain one's language to be polite or avoid giving offense. Today these phrases are nearly always put negatively, as in Not to mince matters, I feel he should resign, or Don't mince words—say what you mean. The usage dates from the mid-1500s and transfers cutting something such as meat into small pieces to minimizing the harsh impact of words.

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Example Sentences

Yes; these purveyors to the world's taste don't mince matters with their journeymen.

From The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly by Lever, Charles James

And that hall porter didn't mince matters either.

From The Heart of a Woman by Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness

On the fourth morning Wulf found his patient sufficiently recovered to be spoken to plainly as to the future, and he did not mince matters.

From Maid of the Mist by Oxenham, John

I give it to 'em, and I didn't mince matters none.

From Susan Clegg and Her Love Affairs by Warner, Anne

His grace, out of ear-shot of the duchess, didn't mince matters.

From The Tigress by Warner, Anne