Idioms

loose lips sink ships

Also found in: Acronyms.

loose lips sink ships

If you speak indiscreetly about confidential or sensitive information, someone might be listening who could use it against you. A propaganda slogan used in the US during World War II, warning servicemen and citizens not to discuss military tactics and information carelessly, lest an enemy spy should be listening in. The details of this project are extremely confidential, so until we say otherwise, remember—loose lips sink ships!
See also: lip, loose, ship, sink
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Loose lips sink ships.

Don't talk carelessly because you don't know who is listening. (From wartime. Literally, "Don't reveal even the location of a loved one on a ship, because the location could be communicated to the enemy by a spy.") You never know who is going to hear what you say and how they will use what they hear. Remember, loose lips sink ships.
See also: lip, loose, ship, sink
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
See also:
References in periodicals archive
"Loose Lips Sink Ships: Will Leaked Videos Undermine Romney's Presidential Bid?," October 8, 2012.
Loose lips: broadcast and socially mediated political rhetoric and the sinking of the 2012 senatorial campaigns of todd akin and richard mourdock
'Our key phrase is 'Loose lips sink ships',' says Mr Reed.
It really does pay to kick up a fuss
Working for the government, we know that loose lips sink ships. But now we know that our eyes catch spies ...
Commentary: don't let terrorists spread fear
Loose lips sink ships, however, and it doesn't take long before other party guests are verbally torpedoing Ed's closeted hypocrisy.
Mango Souffle
Within the Navy, the odds of making it through boot camp without hearing, 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' are improbable.
OPSEC is everyone's responsibility. (Around the Fleet)
The ads, created by the Baltimore agency Trahan, Burden & Charles, echo World War II posters that popularized such slogans as "Loose Lips Sink Ships." The 21st century version uses the more prosaic slogan "Information Security Begins With You." See the ads at http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=34947.
National Security Agency. (Washington Insider)
However the old World War I saying is still true today: "Loose lips sink ships." Most corporate leaks come from the talkative person or the individual who is too lazy to walk the extra distance to the shred bin, not from sophisticated hacking efforts.
"Mike receives a `present'" (Nov.-Dec. 2001, p. 53). (Readers Reply To)
"Loose Lips Sink Ships!" was innocently yelled by all kids playing war.
Civilization's two big problems
In the past, posters warned that "loose lips sink ships." Today, we might say "loose bits sink ships," De Leon told the audience.
Security Awareness Week at the Pentagon
Loose lips sink ships. Also, they tend not to have big abstract things to say about life because they were actually busy living it, and forgot to take notes.
The D-Day generation: a baby boomer pays tribute to the men and women who won World War II and built the peace
Warning that "loose lips sink ships," United Press International's Pieter VanBennekom has urged staffers to ease up on the "rumor mongering" that "has already caused casualties among prospective buyers since November."
UPI's chief exec warns staff: VanBennekom says employee 'rumor mongering' has dissuaded some prospective buyers from the financially troubled news service
14 Loose Lips Sink Ships: Customer Name Mistakes Sink Collections W Bruce Nathan, Esq.
NACM's 2015 Audio Teleconference & Professional Education webinars
LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS Gary Mackay-Steven has joined Celtic on a pre-contract agreement from Dundee Utd
YOU SHOULD'VE KEPT YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT RON; SCOTS PREMIERSHIP HAMILTON v CELTIC, TODAY, 12.45PM; Arabs boss McNamara blasts Hoops over Mackay-Steven
LOOSE lips sink ships, they used to say in wartime.
Careless talk boosts Yes camp's currency; Torcuil Crichton THE HEART OF POLITICS follow @torcuil
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