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

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

It did not mince matters as to the dangers she was running.

From The Pastor's Wife by Arnim, Elizabeth von

The men who made this brave report did not mince matters.

From Following the Color Line an account of Negro citizenship in the American democracy by Grayson, David

It was when she wrote again, and sent more verses, that he decided he must not mince matters.

From Man and Maid by Nesbit, E. (Edith)

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