Tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche

Expression: Tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche (avant de parler / répondre / dire quelque chose)

Pronunciation: [toor nay set fwa sa la(n)g da(n) sa boosh]

Meaning: To think long and hard before speaking

Literal translation: To turn one's tongue in one's mouth seven times

Register: normal

Notes: Il faut tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche avant de parler is a French proverb, equivalent to the English expressions "you should think [long and hard] before you speak" or "you should count to ten before you speak." You might also hear retourner sept fois sa langue, but this is less common.

I've loved this French expression ever since grad school, when one of my classmates asked what it meant and our professor opened his mouth and moved his tongue in seven circles.

I find it kind of strange that it's a proverb in French, rather than just an expression like it is in English. Or maybe there is an equivalent English proverb and I just haven't found it?

Example

   J'ai fait une gaffe hier : j'aurais dû tourner sept fois ma langue dans ma bouche avant de parler à Michel.
   I put my foot in my mouth yesterday; I should have thought long and hard before talking to Michel.


More

• Expressions with fois
• Expressions with bouche
• French numbers
• Most common French phrases
• French proverbs