If you say that butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth, you mean that although they look completely innocent, they are capable of doing bad things. He may look as though butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, but I wouldn't trust him. To look at her you'd think that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. You wouldn't dream she'd even heard language like that. Note: You can also say that butter wouldn't melt. Mums and dads who see their sweet little Sally Ann tripping off for a night's studying at the chemistry society, looking like butter wouldn't melt, would be advised to look closer.