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

[Anonymous]

I hear this expression and read it in print and I still can't figure out what exactly it means. I always thought it meant that someone was a cold fish, but I've seen it lately where that context makes no sense.

Can someone enlighten me? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It means that they are harmless. Or sometimes it can be used to mean someone who looks harmless but isn't--you might use it of a very cute looking toddler who is prone to tantrums/acting out.

[Anonymous]

Meaning:

Prim and proper, with a cool demeanor

Origin:

The allusion in this expression is to people who maintain such a cool demeanor that they don't even have the warmth to melt butter.

[Anonymous]

I always thought it meant that a person was prim and proper and "nice" but passive aggressive. But I am no expert on this.

[Anonymous]

Someone who is prissy, prim, dour, hung up, and not warm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means that they are harmless. Or sometimes it can be used to mean someone who looks harmless but isn't--you might use it of a very cute looking toddler who is prone to tantrums/acting out.

um, no. I don't think I would ever refer to a child with this expression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means that they are harmless. Or sometimes it can be used to mean someone who looks harmless but isn't--you might use it of a very cute looking toddler who is prone to tantrums/acting out.

No.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

doesn't like sex? innocent? that's what i always thought.

[Anonymous]

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)

[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.

Yes. This, and passive aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meaning:

Prim and proper, with a cool demeanor

Origin:

The allusion in this expression is to people who maintain such a cool demeanor that they don't even have the warmth to melt butter.

This.

[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)

It must be -- have to say that's a usage that would never be employed in the States.

[Anonymous]

British PP--I just asked my American husband, who said it meant smooth, and prone to flattery.

Curiouser and curiouser.

[Anonymous]

I always thought it meant super-smooth ... a real cool operator, maybe too cool for his own good. Here's Bill Safire's take ... http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/28/magazine/on-language-you-pays-yer-money.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm