# read someone's lips

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/read-someones-lips
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To pay close attention (often imperative).

## Examples

- Read my lips: we are not going out tonight.
- The coach told the team to read his lips because the stadium was too loud to hear him.
- He stared directly at her and said, read my lips, I will never agree to those terms under any circumstances.

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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.