Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic)The identified person appears to bebenign,mild-mannered, orcalm(but with anintegralsuggestion that, to the contrary, he or she really isuntrustworthy,disagreeable, ormean-spirited).1738,Jonathan Swift, “Polite Conversation”, inThe Works of Jonathan Swift, D. D., volume 6, published1859,page45:Col.Why, they say she's one of the chief toasts in town.Lady S.Ay, when all the rest are out of it.Miss.Well; I wouldn't be as sick as she's proud for all the world.Lady A.She looks as ifbutter wouldn't melt in her mouthbut, I warrant, cheese won't choke her. . . .Col.I can't pardon her for her rudeness to me.1850,William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 61, inThe History of Pendennis:When a visitor comes in, she smiles and languishes, you'd think thatbutter wouldn't melt in her mouth: and the minute he is gone, very likely, she flares up like a little demon, and says things fit to send you wild.1875,Horatio Alger, chapter 29, inHerbert Carter's Legacy:"Yes, he is a ruffian and a brute, and I don't see what Mr. Cameron sees about him to like, I am sure.""Probably the boy makes him think he is a model of excellence. Such boys are apt to be deceitful.""He's deceitful enough. You'd thinkbutter wouldn't melt in his mouth."1900,Fergus Hume, “‘Enter Mrs Pansey as Chorus’”, inBishop Pendle: Or, The Bishop’s Secret, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.:Rand, McNally & Company,→OCLC,page 7:Yes, he is the bishop's chaplain; a Jesuit in disguise I call him, with his moping and mowing and sneaky ways.Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth;[…]1901,L. Frank Baum, chapter 18, inThe Master Key:"Evil, wise and cruel," reflected Rob, as he restored the spectacles to his pocket. "How easily such a man could impose upon people. To look at him one would think thatbutter wouldn't melt in his mouth!"1913,Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 21, inThe Golden Road:"There's old Stephen Grant coming in," exclaimed Peg viciously, shaking her floury fist at him, "and looking as ifbutter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He may be an elder, but he's a scoundrel just the same."1918,Edgar Wallace, chapter 2, inThe Man Who Knew:"I've often laughed, seeing you walk past me as thoughbutter wouldn't melt in your mouthand everybody saying what a nice young man Mr. So-and-so is, and I have thought, if they only knew that this sleek lad—""Shut up!" said the other savagely.2015February 5, Julian Robinson, “'Angelic' looking teen who terrorised his village”, inDaily Mail, UK, retrieved13 July 2015:One villager said: "This lad looks likebutter wouldn't melt in his mouthwith his blonde hair and good looks. But he is no cherub in real-life. He is the devil child for many people around here."; (idiomatic)The identified person isprimandproper,standoffish,cool, ordispassionate.1861,Anthony Trollope, chapter 38, inFramley Parsonage:All unmarried women are necessarily in the market; but if they behave themselves properly they make no signs. Now there was Griselda Grantly; of course she intended to get herself a husband, and a very grand one she has got: but she always looked as thoughbutter would not melt in her mouth.2004October 21,Edward Seckerson, “Lisa Milne Sings, Jacques Brel, Wigmore Hall, London”, inIndependent, UK, retrieved12 July 2015:It was a very long way from Mozart's Pamina, Handel's Alcina, Donizetti's Adina or Bizet'sbutter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouthMicaela. Indeed, Lisa Milne had put away her shining soprano for the night. . . . The only way to reach the songs of Jacques Brel is from the heart; the only way to deliver them, from the gut.2013October 17,Charles Isherwood, “‘The Winslow Boy’ Is Revived at American Airlines Theater”, inNew York Times, retrieved12 July 2015:Sir Robert is the type of whom it is said thatbutter wouldn’t melt in his mouth; Mr. Nivola invests him with such a potent blend of froideur and hauteur that you imagine that butter wouldn’t melt anywhere within a 10-foot radius of him.
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