mince matters

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

Colonel Broadcastle was not accustomed to mince matters, when the occasion demanded brevity and conciseness.

From Project Gutenberg

Leonard however did not mince matters, and before he had finished his exhortation the other man was in a furious rage.

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed too cruel—but wasn't that just what Mrs. Timberlake meant when she said that Mr. Blackburn 'wouldn't mince matters?'

From Project Gutenberg

Since she definitely disliked her daughter, Lady Mallowe did not mince matters when they were alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Not to mince matters needlessly, I ran through that eighty thousand pounds in something short of four years.

From Project Gutenberg