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

See Examples For:

mince matters

Referring to Mapleson once more, who was never inclined to mince matters when he was annoyed by a prima donna, we get the following anecdote.

From Famous Singers of To-day and Yesterday by Lahee, Henry C.

You see I am hideously candid; I don't mince matters ... where would be the use?

From An Ambitious Woman A Novel by Fawcett, Edgar

See here, Mr. Faxon," he said, with characteristic disdain of subtlety, "let's not mince matters.

From Thirty by O'Brien, Howard Vincent

You see, I never was one to mince matters.

From Dorrien of Cranston by Mitford, Bertram

I regret to speak so unequivocally, but I never mince matters where my profession is concerned.

From One of My Sons by Green, Anna Katharine