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

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

From The Builders by Glasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson

Such men are not apt to mince matters in the course of their wooing.

From Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2) A Legend of St. Inigoe's by Kennedy, John P.

He was in no mood to mince matters.

From Ovington's Bank by Weyman, Stanley J.

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

His grace, out of ear-shot of the duchess, didn't mince matters.

From The Tigress by Warner, Anne