clip one’s words—speak with affected clarity or precise articulation:
- Although he was usually fairly easy to understand, he had a habit of clipping his words so that they sounded extremely precise.
clip the King’s English—(UK dated) pronounce words hurriedly and indistinctly when drunk (also: clip the Queen’s English):
- I only drink to get mauled but it’s rare to find me clipping the King’s English in these places.