melt
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melting pot
A place where a number of different people and cultures mix in harmony. America has traditionally been known as a great melting pot because of the diverse backgrounds and cultures of its citizens.
look as if butter wouldn't melt in (one's) mouth
To appear innocent or reserved in certain company, when in fact one may have the opposite demeanor. Sure, he looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth when he's around people he doesn't know, but stay a while and you'll see what he's really like.
butter wouldn't melt (in (one's) mouth)
Said of one who appears innocent or reserved in certain company, when in fact one may have the opposite demeanor. Sure, he looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth when he's around people he doesn't know, but stay a while and you'll see what he's really like.
melt in (one's)/the mouth
Of food, to be soft or tender, and, typically, delicious. The phrase is often quite literal. This decadent chocolate cake positively melts in the mouth. I've never had such a perfect steak in my life! I swear, it melted in my mouth.
melt away
1. To change from a solid state into a liquid; to melt. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "melt" and "away." The sun should melt away some of this snow. The ice melted away in a matter of minutes.
2. To lessen and disappear. My nerves just melted away as soon as I stepped on the stage and started to sing.
3. To cause something to lessen and disappear. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "melt" and "away." That massage was great—it totally melted all of my tension away.
in the melting pot
In a state of continuous or likely change; having an uncertain outcome. Most often used in relation to sports. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. A late goal by the captain put the game back in the melting pot, forcing the former champions back on the defensive. They announced that a new show would be coming to television next spring, though the format is still in the melting pot at the moment.
melt down
1. intransitive To melt from a solid to a liquid state. By the time the ceremony was over, the elaborate ice sculpture had melted down into a large puddle.
2. To cause something to melt from a solid to a liquid state. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "melt" and "down." He melts recycled scrap metal down and uses it in his sculptures.
3. Of a nuclear reactor core, to become so hot as to melt through the containment unit. The entire region has been a deserted wasteland ever since the nuclear power plant melted down ten years ago.
4. To go through extreme emotional duress; to have an emotional crisis or break down. More commonly worded as "have a meltdown." He was just trying to juggle too many things at work, and he ended up melting down.
melt in
1. To turn from a solid into a liquid in the presence of high temperatures or inside of something that is very hot. They should have known an ice sculpture would melt in this heat! My chocolate bar melted in the car.
2. To be very uncomfortable and produce a lot of sweat because of high temperatures or a source thereof. I feel like I'm melting in this weather—let's go to the pool to cool off. My parents are coming from Toronto to visit me in Texas—they're going to melt in this heat!
See also: melt
melt into
1. To turn from a solid into a particular kind of liquid or liquid-like state, as by a result of excess heat. My chocolate bar melted into goop after I left it in the car all day. OK, everyone grab a slice of the ice cream cake before it melts into mush!
2. To cause something to turn from a solid into a particular kind of liquid or liquid-like state. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "melt" and "into." We need to melt this ore into a molten state so that it can be molded into the desired shape. We used salt to melt the ice on the roads into water.
3. To cause something to melt and combine with a mixture or other liquid. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "melt" and "into." After you've melted the butter into the batter, you should notice it beginning to fluff up. The chemical reaction causes the salt to melt into the compound.
See also: melt
the same fire that melts the butter hardens the egg
The same experience will trigger different reactions in people (perhaps toughening some and causing others to weaken or fail). A: "How is Casey completely fine after the car accident, and I'm still terrified to drive?" B: "Well, the same fire that melts the butter hardens the egg, you know. It's OK to feel differently than she does."
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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?
See also: melt
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.
See also: melt
melt something away
to cause something to melt into a liquid. The sun melted the ice away. The sun melted away the ice.
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.
See also: melt
butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth
Be overly coy or demure; be insincere. For example, She looked quite innocent, as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but we knew better . Already a proverb in John Heywood's collection of 1546, this metaphoric expression alleges that one is literally so cool that butter inside the mouth would not melt.
melt in one's mouth
Taste very good, as in This cake is wonderful-it just melts in one's mouth. This expression, first recorded in 1693, at first alluded to the tenderness of some food that therefore did not require chewing, but it had acquired its present meaning by about 1850. Also see butter wouldn't melt.
butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
If you say that butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth, you mean that although they look completely innocent, they are capable of doing bad things. He may look as though butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, but I wouldn't trust him. To look at her you'd think that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. You wouldn't dream she'd even heard language like that. Note: You can also say that butter wouldn't melt. Mums and dads who see their sweet little Sally Ann tripping off for a night's studying at the chemistry society, looking like butter wouldn't melt, would be advised to look closer.
in the melting pot
mainly BRITISH, JOURNALISMIf something is in the melting pot, it is constantly changing, so that you do not know what will finally happen to it. Their fate is still in the melting pot, and much suffering may lie ahead. The game was still in the melting pot with 15 minutes to go when Colleary scored. Note: A `melting pot' is a container in which metal is melted down before being made into new objects.
a melting pot
A melting pot is a place or situation where there are many different types of people, cultures or ideas, all existing together. A melting pot of cultures, this region has always been inhabited by different ethnic groups. Barcelona was a melting pot of musical influences.
look as if butter wouldn't melt in your mouth
appear deceptively gentle or innocent. informalmelt in the mouth
(of food) be deliciously light or tender and need little or no chewing.ˌbutter wouldn’t ˈmelt (in somebody’s ˈmouth)
(spoken) a person looks very innocent, but probably is not: She looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but don’t be fooled by first impressions!ˌmelt in your ˈmouth
(of food) be soft and very good to eat: They serve steaks that just melt in your mouth.in the ˈmelting pot
(especially British English) likely to change; in the process of changing: The project is in the melting pot at the moment, so we’d better wait for a while before we make any decisions.A melting pot is a container in which different kinds of metal are melted and mixed together.
melt away
v.
1. To dissipate or fade away by or as if by melting: As the sun rose, the fog melted away.
2. To cause something to dissipate or fade away by or as if by melting: The medication melted my anxiety away. The soothing words melted away the child's fears.
melt down
v.
1. To melt from a solid into a liquid: As ice cubes melt down, the water level in the glass remains constant.
2. To cause something to melt from a solid into a liquid: The sun melted the snowman down into a puddle. I melted down the ice on the window with a hair dryer.
3. To overheat severely and melt, resulting in the escape of radiation from a nuclear reactor core: The nuclear reactor melted down, and thousands of people had to evacuate the area.
4. Slang To have an emotional breakdown: I was dealing with a lot of stress, and I melted down on the subway when it stopped between stations.
butter wouldn't melt (in his/her mouth), looks as if
Suspiciously coy or demure, too good to be true. This expression dates from the early sixteenth century and was already a proverb in John Heywood’s 1546 collection. It recurs again and again (Swift, Dickens, Thackeray, Shaw) and has been a cliché for at least a century.