loosen someone's lips

present singular third person loosens someone's lips · participle present loosening someone's lips · participle past loosened someone's lips · past loosened someone's lips

1. idiomaticinformalTo cause one to speak more freely; to cause one to discuss a subject that would not usually be discussed.

   A goodly number of these officers gathered nightly at the Crown and Anchor, where drink often loosened their lips. Was this where the spy learned the movements of ships?

   1994 August 29, Violet Hamilton, chapter 11, in Fabia's Choice, Zebra Books, page 144

   2 more examples

   "I'll ask the DA to go easy on you. Maybe lower your charge to a misdemeanor with a fine." The sheriff acted like he was doing her a big favor, but Cody knew that was all they could charge her with anyway. However, the fear of jail was loosening her lips.

   2008, Jeri Odell, chapter 14, in Until Tomorrow, Heartsong Presents, page 148

   Afterward, she was alone with Hammurabi in the operating room of the primate lab. She leaned against the green-tiled wall to relieve her fatigue. Perhaps exhaustion loosened her lips. She could no longer contain herself about the twins.

   2011, J.E. Fishman, chapter 5, in Primacy, Verbitrage, page 27

   Synonyms: loosen someone's tongue