proverb · Legacy record
To look as if butter will not melt in his mouth.
To look as if butter will not melt in his mouth.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The phrase gives someone an appearance so innocent that butter seems unable to melt in their mouth. It contrasts a mild presentation with possible concealed conduct.
What the words are saying
The impossible-looking image is figurative rather than a temperature claim. A critical explanation recognises suspicion without treating appearance as evidence of guilt. The supplied capable-of-wrongdoing gloss does not establish what any particular person did.
Everyday example
A reader distinguishes an innocent-seeming manner from evidence needed to assess an allegation.
When to use it
Use it to discuss appearance and suspicion with conduct checked.
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What it does not mean
An innocent appearance does not prove either honesty or wrongdoing.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 758; PDF page 108
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.