least said, soonest mended
1
9.9
- idiom
- Informal
- After their argument, he decided least said, soonest mended, and kept quiet about it.
Examples
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In family disputes, my grandmother always advised least said, soonest mended to maintain harmony.
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Whenever a mistake is made in the office, I find least said, soonest mended is the best approach.
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In situations like this, the least said, soonest mended approach works best.
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When conflicts arise, remember that least said, soonest mended.
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After their argument, he decided that least said, soonest mended was the best way to avoid further conflict.
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In family disputes, my grandmother often reminded us that least said, soonest mended helps keep the peace.
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Whenever there is tension in the group, I prefer to follow the principle of least said, soonest mended to resolve issues quickly.
Synonyms
1
8.0
Not speaking to show your feelings or thoughts
Not speaking is often better than saying things you do not need to say
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
least + said, + soonest + mended
The constituent words ('least' + 'said' and 'soonest' + 'mended') directly indicate that saying less leads to quicker mending/repair, so the parts provide a clear compositional clue. However, the proverb's elliptical/archaic word order and the metaphorical use of 'mend' for emotional or relational repair make the exact pragmatic reading less immediately predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure.
Etymology
Least said, soonest mended uses the simple image of a small wound or tear: least said (say little) lets a hurt soonest mended (heal quickly) because talking or picking at it can make it worse. So the saying means 'it is often better to say as little as possible about a disagreement so it will be fixed quickly'.