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.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mince matters

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 John Oxenham

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

From Thirty by Howard Vincent O'Brien

It may be equally taken for granted that I did not mince matters in pointing out the merits of Dr. Schwallenberg.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Bartholomew Sastrow

"Don't mince matters with me, for the sake of sparing me," continued L'Estrange.

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

He was in no mood to mince matters.

From Ovington's Bank by Stanley J. Weyman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---