mince

to soften the effect of one's words. Tell me what you think, and don't mince your words. A frank person never minces words.

to say what you mean as clearly and simply as possible Tom didn't mince any words - he told us right at the beginning of the meeting that he was quitting his job.

to say what you mean clearly and directly, even if you upset people by doing this The report does not mince words about the incompetence of some government officials. Never a woman to mince her words, she described the former minister as self-centred and arrogant.

Also, mince words. Moderate or restrain one's language to be polite or avoid giving offense. Today these phrases are nearly always put negatively, as in Not to mince matters, I feel he should resign, or Don't mince words-say what you mean. The usage dates from the mid-1500s and transfers cutting something such as meat into small pieces to minimizing the harsh impact of words.