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

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

From An Ambitious Woman A Novel by Edgar Fawcett

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 Henry C. Lahee

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

From Man and Maid by E. (Edith) Nesbit

It seems that when he was angry the Maréchal didn't mince matters, and used most emphatic expressions.

From Letters of a Diplomat's Wife 1883-1900 by Mary King Waddington

"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

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