guard one's tongue
Watch your words
To guard one's tongue is to be careful about what you say—to hold back words that might offend, reveal secrets, or cause trouble.
The phrase suggests vigilance against the tongue's natural tendency to speak freely: Guard your tongue around her; she repeats everything.
Someone who fails to guard their tongue speaks rashly or indiscreetly.
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
think before you speak · temperance · hold one's peace · watch your mouth · composure · self-restraint · prudence · mindfulness · keep mum · zip your lip · button your lip · diplomacy · calmness · self-edit · patience · courtesy · decorum · mind your manners
guard one's tongueblurt out
Utter suddenly, impulsively
run one's mouth · shoot from the hip · mouth off · pop off · speak one's mind
guard one's tonguespill the beans
Reveal confidential information
let the cat out of the bag · blab · tell all · kiss and tell · loose lips
guard one's tongueput one's foot in one's mouth
Say something tactless accidentally
speak out of turn · give offense · speak one's mind · give someone a piece of one's mind · call a spade a spade
guard, guards, guarded, guarding, guardian, guardians, guardianship, safeguard, safeguards