What does the phrase "loose lips sink ships" mean?

Answer 1

Its a slogan from World War II. If you give away military secrets in a public place such as a bar, such as the times of convoy sailings across the atlantic, a spy may overhear it and pass it to the german u-boat submarine crews to sink the ships.

Since then, it has just meant if you give away a secret, it will screw something up.

Answer 2

This phrase was coined as a slogan during WWII as part of the US Office of War Information's attempt to limit the possibility of people inadvertently giving useful information to enemy spies. The slogan was actually 'Loose Lips Might Sink Ships. This was one of several similar slogans which all came under the campaigns basic message - 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'.

Answer 3

It means gossip can destroy the safety of the entire plan.
Popularized during World War 2 (or maybe even WW1?). If you working in the naval shipyards, building fighting ships, and you happened to mention information in public (for example, when the ship might be finished, how big it is, how you just installed the extra big guns hidden on the port side), then enemy spies might hear it and use it in battle later.
It can be applied to just about any situation where letting small pieces of information slip can cause trouble.

Answer 4

Unfortunately in my younger years - my mouth did that alot!! It is opening your mouth before thinking!! You hurt someones feelings and it's too late to take it back!! Gossip is a good starter for this - the facts are usually NOT true and get back to the person they're talking about and crushes them deeply aka sinks their ship/heart!

Answer 5

"Loose Lips Sink Ships"

Millions volunteered or were drafted for military duty during World War II. The majority of these citizen-soldiers had no idea how to conduct themselves to prevent inadvertent disclosure of important information to the enemy. To remedy this, the government established rules of conduct. The following is excerpted from a document given to each soldier as he entered the battle area.

WRITING HOME
THINK! Where does the enemy get his information -- information that can put you, and has put your comrades, adrift on an open sea: information that has lost battles and can lose more, unless you personally, vigilantly, perform your duty in SAFEGUARDING MILITARY INFORMATION?


THERE ARE TEN PROHIBITED SUBJECTS


1. Don't write military information of Army units -- their location, strength,, materiel, or equipment.

2. Don't write of military installations.

3. Don't write of transportation facilities.

4. Don't write of convoys, their routes, ports (including ports of embarkation and disembarkation), time en route, naval protection, or war incidents occurring en route.

5. Don't disclose movements of ships, naval or merchant, troops, or aircraft.

6. Don't mention plans and forecasts or orders for future operations, whether known or just your guess.

7. Don't write about the effect of enemy operations.

8. Don't tell of any casualty until released by proper authority (The Adjutant General) and then only by using the full name of the casualty.

9. Don't attempt to formulate or use a code system, cipher, or shorthand, or any other means to conceal the true meaning of your letter. Violations of this regulation will result in severe punishment.

10. Don't give your location in any way except as authorized by proper authority. Be sure nothing you write about discloses a more specific location than the one authorized.


TALK
SILENCE MEANS SECURITY -- If violation of protective measures is serious within written communications it is disastrous in conversations. Protect your conversation as you do your letters, and be even more careful. A harmful letter can be nullified by censorship; loose talk is direct delivery to the enemy.

If you come home during war your lips must remain sealed and your written hand must be guided by self-imposed censorship. This takes guts. Have you got them or do you want your buddies and your country to pay the price for your showing off. You’ve faced the battle front; its little enough to ask you to face this ‘home front.’


CAPTURE
Most enemy intelligence comes from prisoners. If captured, you are required to give only three facts: YOUR NAME, YOUR GRADE, YOUR ARMY SERIAL NUMBER. Don’t talk, don't try to fake stories and use every effort to destroy all papers. When you are going into an area where capture is possible, carry only essential papers and plan to destroy them prior to capture if possible. Do not carry personal letters on your person; they tell much about you, and the envelope has on it your unit and organization.


BE SENSIBLE; USE YOUR HEAD

Answer 6

people who just say whatever they think is considered being "loose lipped" and if someone says the wrong thing to thier friends or boss then it will "sink the ship" like ruin the relationship or however you want to say it

Answer 7

it basically means 'keep your mouth shut.' if you are trusted with a secret, keep it a secret! it's a secret for a reason. if your lips get loose and leak, the 'ship' will 'sink.'

Answer 8

This is a little encouragement not to blab all you know. Use some discretion, and you wil avoid hurting people who have entrusted you with things that are best kept private.

Answer 9

It means you should be careful who you're talking to and what you're saying as the information you unwittingly give away could be used against you.