prunes and prisms

Intentionally formal or prudish speech or action. The phrase originated in Charles Dickens' novel Little Dorrit as an example of proper speech. When you talk to your grandmother, stick to prunes and prisms so that you don't offend her. If you want to become a proper lady, be sure to practice your prunes and prisms.

prunes and prisms

used to denote a prim and affected speech, look, or manner.

In Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit ( 1857 ), Mrs General advocates speaking this phrase aloud in order to give ‘a pretty form to the lips’.

词组	prunes and prisms
释义	prunes and prisms prunes and prisms Intentionally formal or prudish speech or action. The phrase originated in Charles Dickens' novel Little Dorrit as an example of proper speech. When you talk to your grandmother, stick to prunes and prisms so that you don't offend her. If you want to become a proper lady, be sure to practice your prunes and prisms. See also: and, prune Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. prunes and prisms used to denote a prim and affected speech, look, or manner. In Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit ( 1857 ), Mrs General advocates speaking this phrase aloud in order to give ‘a pretty form to the lips’. See also: and, prune Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: speech is silver, but silence is golden speech is silver, silence is gold speech is silver, silence is golden double talk double-talk all and some address address (one) as (something) address as a vote of thanks References in classic literature "I take the liberty of differing from Madame Prunes and Prisms, and, as your physician, I order you to run. Eight Cousins Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes, and prism are all very good words for the lips: especially prunes and prism. You will find it serviceable, in the formation of a demeanour, if you sometimes say to yourself in company--on entering a room, for instance--Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and prism, prunes and prism.' 'To become accustomed to the novelty of my life, was all I meant,' said Little Dorrit, with her loving eyes upon her father; whom she had very nearly addressed as poultry, if not prunes and prism too, in her desire to submit herself to Mrs General and please him. A truly refined mind will seem to be ignorant of the existence of anything that is not perfectly proper, placid, and pleasant.' Having delivered this exalted sentiment, Mrs General made a sweeping obeisance, and retired with an expression of mouth indicative of Prunes and Prism. Little Dorrit
随便看	say something behind someone's back say (something) for (someone or something) say (something) in a roundabout (sort of) way say (something) in plain English say (something) in plain language say (something) out loud say (something) to (one) say (something) to (oneself) say (something) to (one's) face says who Says who? says you Says you! say (that) say that say (that) black is white say the word say to say to face say to oneself say to (oneself) say uncle say uncle, to Say what? say what you like (about someone or something)