read someone's lips

Related to word: read

Idiom

Definition

  1. To understand what someone is saying by watching the movements of their lips, particularly when you cannot hear them.

    • In the noisy restaurant, she tried to read the waiter's lips because the music was too loud.

    • Because of the soundproof glass, I had to read their lips to understand what they were saying.

    • Despite her hearing impairment, she can read most people's lips.