mealy-mouthed

meal·y-mouthed (ml-moud, -moutht)

adj.

Unwilling to state facts or opinions simply and directly.

Word History: It seems fitting that Martin Luther, a man noted for the forthright expression of his ideas, may have had a hand in giving us the contemptuous term we apply to those unwilling to state facts or opinions directly. Mealy-mouthed may come from a saying such as German Mehl im Maule behalten, "to carry meal in the mouth, that is, not to be direct in speech," which occurs in Luther's writings. In English we find the terms mealmouth (1546) and meal-mouthed (1576) recorded around the same time that we find mealymouthed (around 1572). Mealy-mouthed is the only form that survived to describe this trait described by Luther, which not only survives but flourishes in our time.

---

mealy-mouthed

adj

hesitant or afraid to speak plainly; not outspoken

[from mealy (in the sense: soft, soft-spoken)]

mealy-mouthedness  n

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

mealy-mouthed - hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy; "a mealymouthed politician" mealymouthed indirect - extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action; "making indirect but legitimate inquiries"; "an indirect insult"; "doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind"; "though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest"; "known as a shady indirect fellow"

---

mealy-mouthed

adjective hesitant, afraid, doubtful, indirect, mincing, reticent, prim, equivocal, euphemistic, overdelicate He did not intend to be mealy-mouthed with the country's leaders.

Translations

mealy-mouthed [ˈmiːlɪˈmaʊðd] ADJ → modoso, evasivo
let us not be mealy-mouthed about it → hablemos claro sobre esto

mealy-mouthed

adj → unaufrichtig; politician → schönfärberisch; let’s not be mealy-mouthed about it → wir wollen doch mal nicht so um den heißen Brei herumreden

mealy-mouthed [ˈmiːlɪˌmaʊðd] adj → evasivo/a

---

mealy-mouthed [ˈmiːlɪˌmaʊðd] adj → evasivo/a