A close mouth catcheth no flies.
Meaning: Silence protects you from inadvertently spreading rumors, revealing secrets, or inviting conflict through careless speech.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Communication
- Tell that tale to a deaf man. — Wasting effort communicating with someone unwilling or unable to listen yields nothing.
- Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves. — Actions produce tangible results while mere promises and talk leave nothing of substance…
- Wider ears and a shorter tongue. — Listening more than speaking prevents foolishness and builds wisdom through others' knowl…
- That which is easily done is soon believed. — Quick, effortless results breed credibility, while difficult achievements invite skeptici…
- Send a wise man on an errand and say nothing to him. — Trust competent people to understand their task without micromanagement or unnecessary ex…
- One eye-witness is better than ten hearsays. — Direct observation beats secondhand reports because eyewitnesses capture truth free from…
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.