Geen blad voor de mond nemen
Example: Hij neemt geen blad voor de mond tijdens vergaderingen.
Definition
"Geen blad voor de mond nemen" means to speak very openly and directly, without hiding one's true thoughts or feelings. It describes a person who expresses their opinions frankly, often in situations where others might hold back, such as in meetings or discussions.
Etymology
The phrase "geen blad voor de mond nemen" literally translates to 'not taking a leaf in front of the mouth.' It originates from the idea of not covering one's mouth with a leaf to hide words, symbolizing speaking plainly and without concealment. Did you know? This vivid expression has been used in Dutch to emphasize blunt honesty for centuries.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Geen blad voor de mond nemen" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to speak one's mind