What does "butter wouldn't melt in his/her mouth" mean?

[Anonymous]

It means somebody that thinks they're all that. It is used in a sarcastic sense.

They think they are so great (butter doesn't even melt..).

It is NOT a compliment.

[Anonymous]

Obviously no one really knows as elucidated by this thread

[Anonymous]

Slick and charming. Think Bill Clinton.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard this. Is this a regional thing? I grew up in Va.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth means on the outside she's warm/charming/friendly/sweet, but in reality, a huge bitch. AKA two faced. This is a very Southern turn of phrase.

How do you turn a phrase?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here--I think "innocent" captures it better than "harmless." But the more I think about it, it really does have an ironic meaning. I usually hear it to mean innocent-looking, but not truly innocent.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/butter-wouldn-t-melt-in-sb-s-mouth

But interested that PPs have a completely different viewpoint; prim, proper, emotionally cool. Wonder if it's a British vs. American English difference? (I'm British)

that was always my interpretation as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth means on the outside she's warm/charming/friendly/sweet, but in reality, a huge bitch. AKA two faced. This is a very Southern turn of phrase.

This.

[Anonymous]

It's the same as cool as a cucumber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means somebody that thinks they're all that. It is used in a sarcastic sense.

They think they are so great (butter doesn't even melt..).

It is NOT a compliment.

+1

Their shit don't stink.

[Anonymous]

It means they seem sweet and harmless, while implying that they are actually mean/vicious.

I think everyone in the UK would know this meaning only.

[Anonymous]

I always thought it means the person is cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard this. Is this a regional thing? I grew up in Va.

I grew up in Fairfax and I've heard since I was a kid.

My parents are from Connecticut.

Also--all very well read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the same as cool as a cucumber.

No. It's not.

Cool as a cucumber implies a person doesn't crack under pressure. They retain composure under stressful circumstances, etc. It is complimentary.

'Butter...' Phrase implies they are so high falutin/pretentious that 'butter doesn't melt in their mouth'. They think they are better than everyone.

[Anonymous]

True butter (b/c it is basically lard) needs to be warmed A LOT before it melts. So if a person's mouth can't melt it would mean the person isn't "full of hot air"

[Anonymous]

I'm 45 and have never heard this phrase before.