C1idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
not mince your words
USUK
to say exactly what you think, even if it sounds rude or upsets people
Always negative. In speech it is usually 'didn't mince her words' or 'doesn't mince his words'.
In context
The new director did not mince her words: half the projects would be cancelled.
My grandmother is not one to mince her words when she dislikes your cooking.
More idioms about communication
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- beat around the bushto avoid saying something directly, usually because it is uncomfortable
- get the wrong end of the stickto understand something in the wrong way
- get to the pointto start talking about the most important part of a subject
- get your point acrossto make other people understand what you are trying to say