a closed mouth gathers no feet
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing.
Register: humorous
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
From the wall of a New York bar: "A closed mouth gathers no feet."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “a closed mouth gathers no feet” mean?
One who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing.
Is “a closed mouth gathers no feet” formal or informal?
a closed mouth gathers no feet is generally humorous.