melt (redirected from melter)

butter wouldn't melt (in someone's mouth)

Prov. Someone is acting as if innocent. By the time her parents came home, Emily had cleaned up all evidence of having broken the valuable figurine, and she looked as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Jane: How can you suspect George of playing that practical joke on you? He looks so innocent. Jill: Yes, butter wouldn't melt, I'm sure.

See also: butter

look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth

Fig. to appear to be cold and unfeeling (despite any information to the contrary). Sally looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. She can be so cruel. What a sour face. He looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

See also: butter, if, look, mouth

melt something away

to cause something to melt into a liquid. The sun melted the ice away. The sun melted away the ice.

See also: away

melt something down

to cause something frozen to melt; to cause something solid to melt. The rays of the sun melted the candle down to a puddle of wax. The heat melted down the ice.

melt something into something

to cause something to change its state when melting. The ice melted into a cold liquid that we could drink. We melted the fat into a liquid that we could deep-fry in.

melt away

to melt into a liquid. The ice cubes melted away quickly in the intense heat. When the wax candles melted away, they ruined the lace tablecloth.

See also: away

melt down 

1. Lit. [for something frozen] to melt. The glacier melted down little by little. When the ice on the streets melted down, it was safe to drive again.

2. Fig. [for a nuclear reactor] to become hot enough to melt through its container. The whole system was on the verge of melting down.

melt in something 

1. [for something] to melt to a liquid at a high temperature. Surely the plastic cup will melt in such heat. This tray will melt in the oven, so keep it out of there.

2. [for something] to dissolve in a particular liquid. Sugar melts in hot water easily. Will this substance melt in heated water?

melt in one's mouth 

1. to taste very good. (Also can be literal.) This cake is so good it'll melt in your mouth. John said that the food didn't exactly melt in his mouth.

2. [of meat] to be very, very tender. My steak is so tender it could melt in my mouth. This filet will melt in your mouth!

See also: mouth

melt into something

to melt and change into a different state. All the ice cream melted into a sticky soup. The candles melted into a pool of colored wax in all the heat we had last summer.

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a melting pot

a place where people of many different races and from many different countries live together Rules of mutual tolerance must be agreed in an area which is a melting pot of such diverse cultures.

See also: pot

butter wouldn't melt in somebody's mouth

if butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth, they look as if they would never do anything wrong although you think they would She looks as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth but I've seen her fighting with the younger kids.

See also: butter, mouth

melt in the/your mouth

if food melts in your mouth, it is soft and tastes very pleasant This sponge cake just melts in your mouth.

See also: mouth

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melt away

to disappear The polls show him with a big lead now, but his support could melt away before the election.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form melt something away: She put on some music that's meant to melt your tension away.

See also: away

melt in your mouth

to be soft and creamy The outside of the cake is just a little crisp and the center just melts in your mouth.

See also: mouth