Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

guard one's tongue

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.99 in modern English

Syllables: guard one's -tongue
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be careful in what one says; to avoid divulging information or speaking in a way considered to be inappropriate or offensive.

Example Sentences

"1696, Aphra Behn, “Love-Letters to a Gentleman,” Letter 3, in All the Histories and Novels Written by the Late Ingenious Mrs. Behn, London: Samuel Briscoe, p. 47, […] though I scorn to guard my Tongue, as hoping ’twill never offend willingly; yet I can, with much adoe, hold it, when I have a great mind to say a thousand things I know will be taken in an ill sence."
"[…] of course it is a little out of character to call upon me to guard my tongue, when it is the privilege of a freeman to speak his mind […]"
"Oh, Howard, Howard, the things you have uttered when you were forgetting to guard your tongue, have betrayed you."
"But in spite of the affection she felt for her charming mother-in-law, Arnon had extended no confidences. Her father had warned her to guard her tongue in the presence of these people."

Inflected Forms

guards one's tongue (present, singular) guarding one's tongue (participle, present) guarded one's tongue (participle, past) guarded one's tongue (past)

Questions

What does guard one's tongue mean?: To be careful in what one says; to avoid divulging information or speaking in a way considered to be inappropriate or offensive.

How to pronounce guard one's tongue

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