Phrase guide

a closed mouth catches no flies

proverb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

proverb

Meaning 1

It's best not to talk too much.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

proverb

Meaning 2

It's better to not say anything than to say something suspicious or troublesome.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Unknown. Equivalent expressions are found in several languages, so it is difficult to tell if it originated in English or a different language.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vaikeneminen on kultaa — It's best not to talk too much
  • Galician: en boca pechada non entran moscas — It's best not to talk too much
  • Italian: un bel tacer non fu mai scritto — It's best not to talk too much
  • Polish: mowa jest srebrem, a milczenie złotem — It's best not to talk too much
  • Portuguese: em boca fechada não entra mosquito — It's best not to talk too much
  • Spanish: en boca cerrada no entran moscas — It's best not to talk too much