a closed mouth gathers no feet

English

WOTD – 28 March 2020

Etymology

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ə ˈkləʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðəz nəʊ ˈfiːt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ə ˈkloʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðɚz noʊ ˈfiːt/
• Hyphenation: a closed mouth ga‧thers no feet

Proverb

a closed mouth gathers no feet

1. (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.

   • 1987, Forbes, volume 139, New York, N.Y.: Forbes, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 71:

     Now disinflation is conventional wisdom on Wall Street, and Rutledge makes no apologies for his flamboyance: "A closed mouth gathers no feet," he says.

   • 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

one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing

• Serbo-Croatian: šutnja je zlato
• Spanish: en boca cerrada no entran moscas

See also

• a closed mouth catches no flies