2007-02-01 11:02:53 · 19 answers · asked by Midnight Dynamo 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It means prim and proper.
The allusion is to women who are so proper that they don't even have the warmth to melt butter. This is an old phrase - here's a citation from 1530, in Jehan Palsgrave's Lesclarcissement de la langue françoyse:
"He maketh as thoughe butter wolde nat melte in his mouthe."
2007-02-01 11:10:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it could mean one of two things...but this is just me.
1. That person is so mean (cold-blooded) that it literally wouldn't melt.
2. That person is so scary/mean that even though butter would usually melt in anyone's mouth, that the butter wouldn't dare to melt in their mouth.
Haha maybe that helps. Either way, it has a negative meaning toward the person.
2007-02-01 19:07:38 · answer #2 · answered by pocahontas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means "prim and proper". The allusion is to women who are so proper that they don't even have the warmth to melt butter.
This is an old phrase - here's a citation from 1530, in Jehan Palsgrave's Lesclarcissement de la langue françoyse: "He maketh as thoughe butter wolde nat melte in his mouthe."
2007-02-09 15:33:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always heard the proverb quoted as 'Butter wouldn't melt in his/her mouth and cheese would choke him/her'. It certainly means however innocent someone looks they aren't! Sorry I don't know the origin. It was a favourite of my granny and she was born in Stirling in 1895 so its been around a long time.
2007-02-09 04:45:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard it as butter would melt in his mouth, which means they are a very smoothg and accomplished speaker, who will make you do their bidding
2007-02-01 19:06:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an older saying that means that the person referred to is so good a person one who can do no wrong. I think it originated in England and migrated to Australia but then again many new sayings have started in Australia.
2007-02-01 19:15:07 · answer #6 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that they have an icy tounge, therefore butter wouldn't melt in their mouth.
2007-02-01 19:24:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that if he had butter in his mouth it would not melt
2007-02-05 19:24:05 · answer #8 · answered by dont know much 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its cockney i think, english slang its a saying for almost anything , if kids are arguing with other kids and one of the parents say it meaning that the other parents kid cant do no wrong ,just like saying there pulling the wool over her eyes its just an old saying
2007-02-02 06:02:31 · answer #9 · answered by saj winnie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best guess: The person is cold, so cold even that they are dead inside. Or on a literal level, it could just mean the person is dead.
2007-02-01 19:08:01 · answer #10 · answered by Carol G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋