it's not what you say but how you say it
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The tone and delivery of communication are at least as important as the message itself.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
phương thức và cách thức giao tiếp quan trọng không kém nội dung
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Say the punch line loud and clear. You can even increase your volume and really emphasize the last word. Sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it.
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 “it's not what you say but how you say it” mean?
The tone and delivery of communication are at least as important as the message itself.
Is “it's not what you say but how you say it” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.