No decir esta boca es mía
Not to say "this mouth is mine."
not to say a word; **not to say a word**; **not to utter a word**; **to keep quiet**; **to keep one's mouth shut**; **to remain silent**; **not to say a peep**
No decir esta boca es mía means not to say a word, to remain completely silent, or to keep one's mouth shut.
Le preguntaron qué había pasado, pero no dijo esta boca es mía.
They asked him what had happened, but he didn't say a word.
Durante toda la reunión no dijo esta boca es mía.
He didn't say a word throughout the whole meeting.
Todos discutían y él no decía esta boca es mía.
Everyone was arguing and he kept completely quiet.
Cuando le preguntaron quién había sido, no dijo esta boca es mía.
When they asked him who had done it, he didn't say a thing.
No dijo esta boca es mía hasta que terminó la discusión.
He didn't say a word until the argument was over.
It is especially used when someone could or should speak, but deliberately says nothing.
A very common construction is:
No dijo esta boca es mía.
→ He didn't say a word.
- remains completely silent
- refuses to give an opinion
- does not answer when questioned
- avoids getting involved in an argument
- keeps quiet about something they know
- does not complain or protest
- stays silent when a response would normally be expected
The expression is based on a humorous personification of the mouth.
The phrase:
Esta boca es mía
literally means "this mouth is mine", as if someone were claiming the right to use their mouth and speak.
By saying that someone doesn't say "this mouth is mine", the expression humorously describes someone who does not open their mouth at all.
The expression is therefore built around the contrast between having the ability to speak and choosing not to speak.
The expression often carries the idea that the person's silence is noticeable or significant.
Compare:
Estuvo callado.
→ He was quiet.
with:
No dijo esta boca es mía.
→ He didn't say a word.
The second is much more expressive and often suggests that the person deliberately kept out of the conversation.
It can also be used when someone refuses to reveal information:
No dijo esta boca es mía.
→ He didn't breathe a word.
The complete positive phrase "esta boca es mía" is also used independently, although much less frequently than the negative idiom.
It can suggest that someone is claiming the right to speak or that they are finally going to express an opinion.
The negative expression is much more firmly established:
No dijo esta boca es mía.
It turns the very act of claiming one's mouth into a humorous metaphor for speaking: if you don't even say that the mouth is yours, you haven't spoken at all.
Do not normally translate:
No dijo esta boca es mía.
as:
He didn't say "this mouth is mine."
The natural equivalents are:
He didn't say a word.
He didn't utter a word.
He kept his mouth shut.
He didn't breathe a word.
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