speak now or forever hold your peace

phrase

Traditionally spoken during a wedding ceremony to allow guests an opportunity to voice any objections to the union.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. Traditionally spoken during a wedding ceremony to allow guests an opportunity to voice any objections to the union.
  2. broadlyhumorousSpoken to give one's listeners a last chance for comments or feedback.

Origin

Originates from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. The original wording is: "Therefore if any man can ſhewe any iuste cauſe why they maie not lawfully be ioyned ſo together: Leat him now ſpeake, or els hereafter for euer hold his peace."

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French qu'il parle maintenant ou se taise à jamais
  • qu'il parle maintenant ou se taise à jamaisphrase traditionally spoken during a wedding ceremony
German spreche jetzt oder schweige für immer
  • spreche jetzt oder schweige für immerphrase traditionally spoken during a wedding ceremony
Cite this entry
APA

speak now or forever hold your peace. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20now%20or%20forever%20hold%20your%20peace

MLA

“speak now or forever hold your peace.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20now%20or%20forever%20hold%20your%20peace. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “speak now or forever hold your peace,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20now%20or%20forever%20hold%20your%20peace.

Source: speak now or forever hold your peace on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.