# mince words

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/mince-words
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.

## Examples

- She does not mince words when she gives feedback.
- The manager did not mince words about the project, explaining exactly why the current strategy was a complete failure.
- If you want to save our friendship, please do not mince words and tell me exactly what I did to upset you.
- Although he usually preferred to remain diplomatic, the critic did not mince words regarding the director's latest film, calling it a tedious and uninspired mess.

## Origin

First attested in the mid-1500s, the expression is a compound of the transitive figurative verb mince, meaning to utter something vaguely rather than frankly, and the plural noun words. The construction treats direct speech as a large, unpalatable portion that must be chopped into smaller, more manageable pieces before it can be presented to an audience. Narrowing the language served to soften the delivery, ensuring that a potentially offensive truth arrived in a form less likely to cause indigestion.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.