(as) thick as mince

slang Remarkably stupid, dimwitted, or obtuse. Primarily heard in UK. Jen's new girlfriend is very nice, but she's thick as mince. The MP was caught on a hot mic calling his colleague "as thick as mince." You took apart the entire washing machine just to unblock the pump? I swear, sometimes you can be as thick as mince, Larry.

mince pies

slang The eyes. The term comes from rhyming slang in which "pies" rhymes with "eyes." Primarily heard in UK. You need to see this with your own mince pies—you'll never believe it otherwise.

mince words

To speak vaguely or indirectly. Often used in the negative to convey that one speaks bluntly or tactlessly, without regard for someone else's feelings. A possessive adjective can be used between "mince" and "words." I hate to watch debates, which are really just two-hour marathons of talking heads mincing their words. Wow, your aunt really doesn't mince words. Is my sweatshirt really that ugly?

not mince matters

To speak (about something) very bluntly and directly, without regard to whether one's words may cause upset or controversy. Wow, your aunt really doesn't mince matters when she discusses politics, huh? I won't mince matters—our company is in dire straits.

not mince words

To speak very bluntly and directly, without regard for someone else's feelings. A possessive adjective can be used between "mince" and "words." Wow, your aunt really doesn't mince words. Is my sweatshirt really that ugly? Let me know what you think of the story when you're done, and, please, don't mince your words.

See also: mince, not, word

not to mince matters

Not to speak vaguely, indirectly, or delicately. You can always count on my aunts not to mince matters when they discuss politics, huh? Our sales team had a dreadful fourth quarter, which, not to mince matters, means that our company is in dire straits.

mince (one's) words

to soften the effect of one's words. Tell me what you think, and don't mince your words. A frank person never minces words.

mince matters

Also, mince words. Moderate or restrain one's language to be polite or avoid giving offense. Today these phrases are nearly always put negatively, as in Not to mince matters, I feel he should resign, or Don't mince words-say what you mean. The usage dates from the mid-1500s and transfers cutting something such as meat into small pieces to minimizing the harsh impact of words.

thick as mince

mainly SCOTTISH

If someone is as thick as mince, they are very stupid. No point in expecting any real help from her department — most of them are as thick as mince. Well, what do you expect? She's as thick as mince.

not mince your words

not mince words

COMMON If you do not mince your words or do not mince words, you state your opinions clearly and directly, even if it offends people. She told him exactly where he'd gone wrong and she didn't mince her words. You always know you'll get the truth from Dan. He's not one to mince his words. I tell it like it is. I don't mince words.

See also: mince, not, word

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

not mince words (or matters)

speak candidly and directly, especially when criticizing someone or something.

See also: mince, not, word

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

not mince your ˈwords

(also not ˈmince matters) speak openly or directly; say what you think, even though you may offend somebody: Sir John, never a man to mince his words, said in a TV interview that the government had lied. ♢ I won’t mince matters: I think it’s a stupid idea. OPPOSITE: pull your punches

See also: mince, not, word

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

mince words, not to

To speak plainly, without equivocating to avoid giving offense. This expression, also put as not to mince matters, dates from Shakespeare’s time (he used it in Othello and Antony and Cleopatra) and in effect transfers the cutting into small pieces of some object, like meat, to moderating or softening one’s language.

See also: mince, not, to

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References in periodicals archive

"Like the guy from Super Size Me, who eat nothing but McDonald's, except I'd eat nothing but mince pies over December."

Man eats only mince pies for every meal in December - and LOSES weight; Padraig Howard replaced every meal with mince pies in a 25 day festive challenge from December 1 until Christmas Day and lost nearly half a stone

Of course, no mince pie christmas pudding is good for you.

PIE-LING ON THE POUNDS; We looked at the fat, sugar and salt content of our festive favourites

The Best All Butter Deep Filled Mince Pies, [pounds sterling]2 Morrisons

The best supermarket mince pies to buy this Christmas; We've tried and tested this year's offerings from the all the major supermarkets

6 The Best All Butter Deep Filled Mince Pies, PS2, Morrisons They looked cute and homemade.

We've got our eyes on the pies; CASH QUEENS FRIDAY WITH RUKI SAYID AND TRICIA PHILLIPS Brilliant money-saving tips and deals to make your cash go furtherTHE BIG TASTE TEST

4 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed METHOD Mix together both minces, three quarters of the breadcrumbs, spring onion, carrot, mint, coriander, curry paste, Garam masala and egg.

Football's roll of honour

I purchased six mince pies and caught the bus home.

'Tis the season for pie folly

- Turn off the flame and let the cooked mince cool down before mixing in all the vegetables.

CUISINE

Morrisons Luxury Deep Filled Mince Pies, PS2.50 for 4

MINCE PIES; It's literally not Christmas without them - it's just some chap in a hat creeping down your chimney. We've busily scoffed all these to find out which ones tasted the best. Cue sugar headache

You don't want a disappointing mince pie around Christmas time so to save you wasting your money on bland bakes, we've sampled all of the supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lildl, Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, The Co-Op and bakeries Sayers and Greggs to find the best of the bunch.

Which supermarket or bakery has the best mince pies? After tasting all of their pies we rate them and pick the best one; We taste mince pies from Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Greggs, Sayers, Marks and Spencer, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, and The Co-Op, and choose our best one and reveal the best value

4 SUGAR, apples, raisin and candied oranges and lemons were only added to the recipe later to become the mince pies we enjoy today.

7 things you should know about mince pies

And among the many things that I do(did) not know is that mince pies do not have mince in them but little bits of sticky fruit.

Other Side of the Mirror: Mince pie mad

I was also given the job of paring meat from bones for mince, although there was very little meat, if any, left.

Scrap meat was taken from cattle; Views of the North

Spoon 1/3 of the mince into a 2 litre (3.5 pint) ovenproof dish and top with 5 sheets dried lasagne.

Beef and Winter Veg Lasagne; RECIPE OF THE WEEK

FOODFO-Baked Potato with Cheesy Mince Topping PROPOINTS' VALUE PER SERVING: 8 SERVINGS: 4 PREPARATION TIME: 15 min COOKING TIME: 60 min LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Easy Make a meal out of baked potatoes with this tasty minced beef filling, topped with salad and crumbled feta cheese Ingredients 4 large potatoes 250g extra lean beef mince, cooked 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 100g mushrooms, finely chopped 100ml fresh stock 1 level tbsp tomato puree 50g feta cheese, crumbled 1 bunch watercress, to serve ' small red onion, to serve 2 individual cherry tomatoes, to serve Instructions Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200C/400F.

WM WELLBEING