kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen

German

Etymology

Literally: “not to take a leaf in front of one’s mouth”. Compare the same in Dutch geen blad voor de mond nemen. Further origin uncertain. Sometimes claimed to derive from a custom among stage actors, who apparently used tree leaves or sheets of paper as a kind of mask. Also said to be from the use of a sheet of paper to muffle one’s voice when speaking privately in company. Perhaps eventually based on the metaphorical Feigenblatt (“fig leaf”) as a means of concealing the rude or indecorous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaɪ̯n ˈblat foːɐ̯ den ˈmʊnt ˈneːmən/

• Audio:

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Verb

kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen (weak, third-person singular present kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmt, past tense kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmte, past participle kein Blatt vor den Mund genehmt, auxiliary haben)

1. (idiomatic) to be outspoken; not to mince words; to call a spade a spade

Conjugation

• See nehmen.