{"id":1531,"date":"2022-02-09T04:22:07","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T04:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=1531"},"modified":"2022-02-09T04:22:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T04:22:07","slug":"loose-lips-sink-ships-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/loose-lips-sink-ships-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Loose Lips Sink Ships - Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you chatting away with a friend about something someone told you earlier? That person might suddenly approach you, and they\u2019ll you that \u201cloose lips sink ships<\/em>.\u201d What do they mean? Do they think you\u2019re a sailor in your spare time or something?<\/p>\n

This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning, origin, and use of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If someone walks up to you and tells you that \u201cloose lips sink ships<\/em>,\u201d they\u2019re telling you to stop talking because you\u2019re giving away information to a third party that you should keep secret. The phrase applies to social and professional settings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cships<\/em>\u201d in the phrase refer to plans, your reputation, or anything you\u2019re trying to keep secret in your life. The \u201cloose lips<\/em>\u201d in the saying means that the person is talking about secrets they may or may not know they should be keeping to themselves.<\/p>\n

If someone tells you that \u201cloose lips sink ships,\u201d<\/em> they are asking you to keep the information to yourself. You can use the phrase when talking to people you know at work or in your social circle.<\/p>\n

For instance, if someone tells you something personal, and they want you to keep it secret<\/em>, they could stress the importance of you keeping it confidential by saying, \u201cloose lips sink ships<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cI walked into work, and Jack was telling Tracey about how we all took last Saturday off early. I told him that loose lips sink ships<\/em>, and Tracey is likely to tell the boss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t tell anyone. Loose lips sink ships<\/em>, and if she finds out, we\u2019re all going to be in a world of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep it to yourself, remember, loose lips sink ships<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is Dee over there telling someone she barely knows all our secrets? Doesn\u2019t she realize loose lips sink ships<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have to make a pact to never speak of this again. Loose lips sink ships<\/em>, so keep it to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Loose Lips Sink Ships Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the phrase \u201cloose lips sink ships<\/em>\u201d comes from WWI and WWII. Sailors would often leave their ship after docking at a new port and wander into the local town to drink. As they got intoxicated, undercover agents, usually women employed by the enemy, would start to speak to the sailor about where they were going and routes planned by the armada.<\/p>\n

The sailors would hand over the information as bragging rights, unaware that they were handing over vital information on military movements to the enemy. The infiltrators would sell the information to the opposing navy, allowing enemy armadas to plan surprise attacks that would sink the fleet.<\/p>\n