Meaning of closed mouth do not enter flies (what is it, concept and definition)

What is in a closed mouth flies do not enter:

"In closed mouths, no flies enter" is a popular saying that alerts us to be discreet to prevent something as unpleasant from happening as the entry of a fly into the mouth.

Its explicit, practical and timeless meaning means that the saying "in a closed mouth no flies enter" is popularly used by all Spanish-speaking countries.

Like all popular orally transmitted sayings, it is very difficult to discover its exact origin. What is known is that it was already used in the fourteenth century by the records of Arabic-Andalusian texts of the time.

"Flies do not enter into a closed mouth" also has the implicit meaning of saying that:

• it is better to remain silent than to be wrong; it is advisable to think before speaking; it is preferable to observe before acting.

The way this saying is used is a colloquial form of warning. For example:

• Loose lips sink ships. Better not to say anything so that they don't discover that we don't know anything. It's better not to talk about politics with them who don't have the same opinion. —Yes, in closed mouths no flies enter.

There are several sayings in the Spanish language that appeal to prudence in speaking. Some of its variants are:

• “For speaking little, nothing is lost.” “A little talking is gold and a lot of talking is mud.” “The fish dies through the mouth” (when the fish opens its mouth to eat there is always a risk of being caught).

"In a closed mouth no flies enter" ( no flies get into a closed mouth ) would be translated in English as " silence is golden ".

See also:

• The fish dies through the mouth; the one with the mouth is wrong.