IdiomFood & Drink
English
Englishbutter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
Meaning: Someone looks innocent or proper, but probably is not.
Example: “She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she started the food fight.”
Origin: The person seems so cool and demure that butter would not even melt in their mouth. The saying is recorded in English in the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Japanese: 猫をかぶる (Neko wo kaburu) Literally: To wear a cat on your head
French: On lui donnerait le Bon Dieu sans confession Literally: You would give him the Lord without confession- French: Sainte Nitouche Literally: Saint Touch-Not
More English idioms
- raise a hue and cry To make a loud public protest.
- have the inside track To have an advantage over others.
- a horn of plenty An abundant source of something.
- a Sophie's choice An agonizing choice between two terrible options.
- kicking and screaming Very reluctantly, protesting all the way.
- at someone's beck and call Always ready to obey someone's orders.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
Keep exploring