Our lips do more than just speak and kiss! They’re a powerful tool for communication, and the English language reflects this with a wealth of lip idioms. These colorful expressions add flavor to our conversations, letting us express everything from secrecy to boldness. So, pucker up and get ready to explore the fascinating world of lip idioms!
List of Lip Idioms
Bite your lip
Bite off more than you can chew
Button your lip
Bite the bullet
Lip service
Zip your lip
Give lip service
Bite one’s lip
Lipstick on a pig
Have a stiff upper lip
Zip one’s lip
Bite your lower lip
Keep a stiff upper lip
Lip-smacking
Lip-locked
Zip up your lip
Lips are sealed
Loose lips sink ships
Slip of the lip
Hang on someone’s every word
Pay lip service
Keep your lip buttoned
Keep a tight lip
Zip one’s mouth
Zip it
Zip your mouth
Zip your trap
Zip up your mouth
Hold one’s tongue
Let your tongue loose
Button up your lip
Muffle your lip
Slip of the tongue
The loose end of the tongue
Sharp tongue
Watch your tongue
Tongue-tied
Have a sweet tongue
Silver tongue
Lose your tongue
Run off at the mouth
Mouth off
Give someone a tongue-lashing
Twisting someone’s words
Waging war of words
Speak with a forked tongue
Tongue in cheek
Speak one’s mind
Bite your tongue
Put your foot in your mouth
Spread like wildfire
Have a loose tongue
Have a taste for something
Leave a bad taste in one’s mouth
Can’t stomach something
Lip Idioms with Meaning and Examples
Bite your lip
Meaning: Refrain from speaking or showing emotion.
Example: She wanted to argue but decided to bite her lip instead.
Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: Take on a task that is too big or difficult to handle.
Example: I agreed to manage two projects at once, but I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.
Button your lip
Meaning: Be quiet; stop talking.
Example: If you don’t button your lip, I’ll have to ask you to leave the meeting.
Bite the bullet
Meaning: Accept a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: She knew she had to bite the bullet and apologize for her mistake.
Lip service
Meaning: Expressing agreement or support without really meaning it.
Example: The politician’s promises were just lip service; nothing ever changed.
Zip your lip
Meaning: Be silent; stop talking.
Example: I told him to zip his lip before he said something he regretted.
Give lip service
Meaning: Express agreement or support insincerely.
Example: He gave lip service to the idea of teamwork but never actually contributed.
Bite one’s lip
Meaning: Suppress one’s emotions, typically anger or frustration.
Example: She had to bite her lip to stop herself from yelling at him.
Lipstick on a pig
Meaning: Attempting to make something unattractive appear attractive.
Example: Putting fancy decorations in that run-down building is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Have a stiff upper lip
Meaning: Remain brave and resolute in the face of adversity.
Example: Despite the setbacks, she maintained a stiff upper lip and continued working.
Zip one’s lip
Meaning: Keep quiet; say nothing.
Example: He zipped his lip when asked about his plans for the weekend.
Bite your lower lip
Meaning: Show hesitation or anxiety.
Example: She bit her lower lip nervously before giving her presentation.
Keep a stiff upper lip
Meaning: Remain calm and composed in difficult situations.
Example: Even though he was disappointed, he kept a stiff upper lip and congratulated the winner.
Lip-smacking
Meaning: Tasting delicious.
Example: The cake was so lip-smacking that everyone wanted a second slice.
Lip-locked
Meaning: Kissing passionately.
Example: They were lip-locked in the park, oblivious to the world around them.
Zip up your lip
Meaning: Be quiet; stop talking.
Example: I warned him to zip up his lip if he wanted to keep his job.
Lips are sealed
Meaning: Promise to keep a secret.
Example: I won’t tell anyone what you said. My lips are sealed.
Example: His comment about her weight was just a slip of the tongue; he didn’t mean to offend her.
The loose end of the tongue
Meaning: Someone who talks too much or reveals secrets.
Example: Don’t tell him anything important; he’s the loose end of the tongue.
Sharp tongue
Meaning: A tendency to speak in a critical or harsh manner.
Example: Be careful what you say around her; she has a sharp tongue.
Watch your tongue
Meaning: Be careful of what you say.
Example: Watch your tongue; you don’t want to upset anyone with your words.
Tongue-tied
Meaning: Unable to speak, typically due to shyness or nervousness.
Example: I always get tongue-tied when I have to speak in front of a large audience.
Have a sweet tongue
Meaning: Speak in a charming or flattering manner.
Example: He always manages to get what he wants with his sweet tongue.
Silver tongue
Meaning: The ability to speak in a persuasive or eloquent manner.
Example: His silver tongue helped him win over the jury during the trial.
Lose your tongue
Meaning: Be unable to speak due to surprise or shock.
Example: When she saw the surprise party, she lost her tongue momentarily.
Run off at the mouth
Meaning: Speak excessively or indiscreetly.
Example: He tends to run off at the mouth when he’s nervous.
Mouth off
Meaning: Speak in a rude or disrespectful manner.
Example: He got detention for mouthing off to the teacher.
Give someone a tongue-lashing
Meaning: Scold or criticize someone harshly.
Example: The coach gave the team a tongue-lashing after their poor performance.
Twisting someone’s words
Meaning: Distorting or misrepresenting what someone said.
Example: I don’t appreciate you twisting my words to make me look bad.
Waging war of words
Meaning: Engaging in a verbal argument or debate.
Example: The politicians were waging a war of words during the debate.
Speak with a forked tongue
Meaning: Be deceitful or insincere in speech.
Example: You can’t trust someone who speaks with a forked tongue.
Tongue in cheek
Meaning: Speaking or writing in an ironic or insincere manner.
Example: He made the comment about being a “genius” with his tongue in cheek.
Speak one’s mind
Meaning: Express one’s thoughts or opinions honestly.
Example: She always speaks her mind, no matter what others think.
Bite your tongue
Meaning: Refrain from speaking, especially to avoid saying something inappropriate or offensive.
Example: I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing during the serious meeting.
Put your foot in your mouth
Meaning: Say something embarrassing or tactless.
Example: I accidentally put my foot in my mouth by mentioning her recent breakup.
Spread like wildfire
Meaning: Spread rapidly and uncontrollably.
Example: The rumors about their relationship spread like wildfire through the office.
Have a loose tongue
Meaning: Tend to speak indiscreetly or reveal secrets.
Example: Be careful what you tell her; she has a loose tongue.
Have a taste for something
Meaning: Have a preference or desire for something.
Example: He has a taste for adventure and loves trying new things.
Leave a bad taste in one’s mouth
Meaning: Create a negative impression or feeling.
Example: His rude behavior left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
Can’t stomach something
Meaning: Find something intolerable or unpleasant.
Example: I can’t stomach horror movies; they give me nightmares.
So, next time you’re crafting a conversation, don’t be afraid to reach for a lip idiom! They’ll add a touch of personality and depth, making you a more engaging speaker.
What’s your favorite lip idiom? Share it in the comments, and let’s get this conversation rolling!
