a closed mouth gathers no feet
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From put one's foot in one's mouth (“to say something embarrassing or wrong, or to make a mistake in public, or a social blunder, that is embarrassing or offensive”), adopting the structure of a rolling stone gathers no moss and a closed mouth catches no flies.
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ə ˈkləʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðəz nəʊ ˈfiːt/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ə ˈkloʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðɚz noʊ ˈfiːt/
Audio (US): (file) - Hyphenation: a closed mouth ga‧thers no feet
Proverb
[edit]a closed mouth gathers no feet
- (humorous) One who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing.
- 1958, “Wall Signs Dept.”, in Advertising Agency, volume 51, Bristol, Conn.: Moore Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 9:
- From the wall of a New York bar: "A closed mouth gathers no feet."
- 1972, American Eagle, San Francisco, Calif.: American Forest Products Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, column 2:
- A closed mouth gathers no feet.
- 1993 April, “The Playboy Advisor”, in Hugh M[arston] Hefner, editor, Playboy, volume 40, number 4, Chicago, Ill.: Playboy Enterprises, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 39, column 1:
- Or just keep your mouth shut. As sex therapist Marty Klein says, "A closed mouth gathers no feet."
- 1996, Marvin Phillips, “A Closed Mouth Gathers No Feet”, in Never Lick a Moving Blender!: Humorous Insights that Motivate and Encourage, West Monroe, La.: Howard Publishing, →ISBN; republished New York, N.Y.: Howard Books, 2010, →ISBN, page 72:
- So open your mouth to speak about what is good. And above all remember that "a closed mouth gathers no feet!"
- 2001, Gary W. Carter, “The Role of a Tax Consultant”, in Getting Started in Tax Consulting, New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 21:
- Bubba said he would like to go along. Leonard said, "That's okay, Bubba, but please allow me to do the talking. Remember, a closed mouth gathers no feet."
Translations
[edit]one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing
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