Definition
To restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.
Origins
From mince (“to say or utter vaguely (not directly or frankly)”, transitive figurative verb) + words. First attested in the mid-1500s.
In Context
- "Near-synonym: pull punches"
- "For quotations using this term, see Citations:mince words."
Also Said As
- mince matters
- pull punches
See Also
- minced oath
- mince matters
- word-mincer
- make no bones about
- weigh one's words