# woman of few words

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/woman-of-few-words
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A woman who either does not speak much or speaks only for a brief period of time.

## Examples

- My grandmother is a woman of few words.
- She is a woman of few words, but when she speaks, everyone listens carefully.
- Although she was a woman of few words, her brief, thoughtful comments often provided the clarity the committee desperately needed.

## Origin

By analogy with man of few words.

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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.