What does loosen someone's lips mean?

loosen someone's lips

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.29 in modern English

Syllables: loosen -some-one's lips
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Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cause one to speak more freely; to cause one to discuss a subject that would not usually be discussed.

Informal

Example Sentences

"A goodly number of these officers gathered nightly at the Crown and Anchor, where drink often loosened their lips. Was this where the spy learned the movements of ships?"
""I'll ask the DA to go easy on you. Maybe lower your charge to a misdemeanor with a fine." The sheriff acted like he was doing her a big favor, but Cody knew that was all they could charge her with anyway. However, the fear of jail was loosening her lips."
"Afterward, she was alone with Hammurabi in the operating room of the primate lab. She leaned against the green-tiled wall to relieve her fatigue. Perhaps exhaustion loosened her lips. She could no longer contain herself about the twins."

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

loosens someone's lips (present, singular) loosening someone's lips (participle, present) loosened someone's lips (participle, past) loosened someone's lips (past)

Phrases

in vino veritas in wine, there is truth loose lips sink ships out of the mouths of babes

Frequently Paired Words

in vino veritas in wine, there is truth loose lips sink ships out of the mouths of babes

Synonyms

loosen someone's tongue