Mouth Idioms

Mouth Idioms

The mouth: it’s not just for eating (although that’s pretty important too!). It’s also a crucial part of communication, expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires. But the power of the mouth extends beyond literal words. The English language is brimming with idioms that use the mouth as a metaphor, offering a colorful and sometimes outrageous way to describe situations.

So, loosen your lips (metaphorically speaking) and get ready to explore the fascinating world of mouth idioms!

List of Mouth Idioms

Mouth Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Spill the Beans

• Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose information.
• Example: “She accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.”

Bite Your Tongue

• Meaning: To refrain from speaking, especially when one is tempted to say something inappropriate.
• Example: “I had to bite my tongue to avoid arguing with my boss.”

Give Someone a Piece of Your Mind

• Meaning: To express one’s opinion frankly and forcefully, especially when upset or angry.
• Example: “He gave his coworker a piece of his mind for constantly being late.”

Cat Got Your Tongue?

• Meaning: Used to ask someone why they are not speaking.
• Example: “Why are you so quiet? Cat got your tongue?”

Tongue-Tied

• Meaning: Unable to speak because of shyness, embarrassment, or nervousness.
• Example: “She felt tongue-tied when she tried to introduce herself.”

Talk a Blue Streak

• Meaning: To talk rapidly and continuously.
• Example: “Once he started talking, he talked a blue streak about his vacation.”

Shoot One’s Mouth Off

• Meaning: To speak too openly or boastfully, often without considering the consequences.
• Example: “He got in trouble for shooting his mouth off about his plans.”

Lick One’s Chops

• Meaning: To anticipate something eagerly.
• Example: “The kids were licking their chops when they heard about the ice cream party.”

Keep Your Mouth Shut

• Meaning: To remain silent or keep a secret.
• Example: “I told her to keep her mouth shut about the surprise party.”

Put Your Foot in Your Mouth

• Meaning: To say something embarrassing or socially inappropriate.
• Example: “I really put my foot in my mouth when I asked her if she was pregnant.”

All Mouth and No Trousers

• Meaning: To boast or talk big without being able to back it up with action.
• Example: “He talks a big game, but he’s all mouth and no trousers.”

Born with a Silver Spoon in One’s Mouth

• Meaning: To be born into a wealthy or privileged family.
• Example: “She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, so she’s never had to work for anything.”

Mouth-Watering

• Meaning: Describing something that looks or smells delicious and makes one’s mouth water.
• Example: “The aroma from the kitchen was mouthwatering.”

Butter Wouldn’t Melt in One’s Mouth

• Meaning: Used to describe someone who appears innocent or demure, especially when they are actually mischievous.
• Example: “She looks so sweet, but butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”

Run Your Mouth

• Meaning: To talk too much or reveal something that should be kept secret.
• Example: “She got in trouble for running her mouth about the surprise party.”

Shut Your Mouth

• Meaning: A command to be quiet or stop talking.
• Example: “I told him to shut his mouth before he said something he regretted.”

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

• Meaning: To say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
• Example: “He really opened mouth, insert foot when he commented on her weight.”

Speak with a Forked Tongue

• Meaning: To speak deceitfully or dishonestly.
• Example: “I don’t trust him. He speaks with a forked tongue.”

Chew the Fat

• Meaning: To engage in casual conversation, especially about unimportant matters.
• Example: “They spent hours chewing the fat at the coffee shop.”

Can’t Keep One’s Mouth Shut

• Meaning: To be unable to keep a secret or refrain from speaking.
• Example: “She can’t keep her mouth shut about anything.”

Word of Mouth

• Meaning: Information passed from person to person by oral communication.
• Example: “We heard about the restaurant through word of mouth.”

Down in the Mouth

• Meaning: Sad or depressed.
• Example: “He’s been down in the mouth ever since he lost his job.”

Foaming at the Mouth

• Meaning: Extremely angry or agitated.
• Example: “He was foaming at the mouth when he found out his car had been towed.”

Mouth Off

• Meaning: To speak angrily or in a disrespectful manner.
• Example: “He got in trouble for mouthing off to the teacher.”

Mouth Like a Sailor

• Meaning: Someone who frequently uses vulgar or profane language.
• Example: “He’s got a real mouth like a sailor.”

Loudmouth

• Meaning: Someone who talks too much or too loudly.
• Example: “He’s such a loudmouth; he never stops talking.”

Mouth-Breather

• Meaning: A derogatory term for someone who is perceived as stupid or unintelligent.
• Example: “He’s such a mouth-breather; I can’t believe he got hired.”

Mouthpiece

• Meaning: Someone who speaks on behalf of others, especially in a professional or official capacity.
• Example: “He served as the mouthpiece for the company during the press conference.”

Watch Your Mouth

• Meaning: Be careful of what you say, especially if it is disrespectful or inappropriate.
• Example: “I warned him to watch his mouth when he started insulting his opponent.”

Put Words in Someone’s Mouth

• Meaning: To attribute words or opinions to someone that they did not actually say or hold.
• Example: “Don’t put words in my mouth; I never said that.”

A Mouthful

• Meaning: A large or complicated word or phrase.
• Example: “That’s quite a mouthful to say.”

From the Horse’s Mouth

• Meaning: Directly from the original or authoritative source.
• Example: “I heard it from the horse’s mouth, so I know it’s true.”

Hang on Someone’s Every Word

• Meaning: To listen attentively to everything someone says.
• Example: “They hung on his every word as he told his story.”

A Taste of Your Own Medicine

• Meaning: To experience something negative that one has inflicted on others.
• Example: “He didn’t like being criticized, but it was a taste of his own medicine.”

Bite Off More than You Can Chew

• Meaning: To take on a task or responsibility that is too difficult to handle.
• Example: “I think I bit off more than I can chew by agreeing to organize the event.”

Bit Your Head Off

• Meaning: To respond to someone angrily or abruptly.
• Example: “He asked a simple question, and she bit his head off.”

Close Your Mouth and Open Your Ears

• Meaning: To listen more and speak less.
• Example: “I told him to close his mouth and open his ears if he wanted to learn something.”

A Fly in the Ointment

• Meaning: Something that spoils or ruins an otherwise enjoyable situation.
• Example: “The rainy weather was a fly in the ointment for their beach vacation.”

To Have a Frog in One’s Throat

• Meaning: To have difficulty speaking because of a dry or sore throat.
• Example: “She sounded like she had a frog in her throat when she tried to speak.”

A Bad Taste in One’s Mouth

• Meaning: A feeling of disappointment or displeasure.
• Example: “The way he treated her left a bad taste in her mouth.”

To Have a Sweet Tooth

• Meaning: To enjoy eating sweet foods.
• Example: “She has a real sweet tooth; she can’t resist chocolate.”

A Mouthful of Marbles

• Meaning: Difficult to understand or articulate, often due to a speech impediment or drunkenness.
• Example: “He sounded like he had a mouthful of marbles when he tried to talk.”

Butterflies in Your Stomach

• Meaning: A feeling of nervousness or anxiety.
• Example: “I always get butterflies in my stomach before giving a presentation.”

Cotton-Mouthed

• Meaning: Having a dry or parched mouth, often due to nervousness.
• Example: “He was so nervous during the interview that he became cotton-mouthed.”

Dripping from Someone’s Mouth

• Meaning: To speak with excessive enthusiasm or anticipation.
• Example: “He was dripping from the mouth as he talked about his favorite band.”

Eat One’s Words

• Meaning: To admit that one was wrong or mistaken.
• Example: “He had to eat his words when the project was a success.”

Go Down the Wrong Way

• Meaning: To be swallowed awkwardly or uncomfortably, often in reference to food or drink.
• Example: “The pill went down the wrong way, and he started choking.”

I Could Eat a Horse

• Meaning: To be very hungry.
• Example: “I skipped breakfast, and now I’m starving. I could eat a horse!”

Speak One’s Mind

• Meaning: To express one’s thoughts or opinions honestly and directly.
• Example: “He always speaks his mind, even if it’s not what people want to hear.”

Spread like Wildfire

• Meaning: To spread rapidly and uncontrollably.
• Example: “The rumor spread like wildfire through the office.”

Keep a Tight Lip

• Meaning: To keep a secret and not reveal it to anyone.
• Example: “She kept a tight lip about the surprise party.”

Have a Loose Tongue

• Meaning: To speak too freely or carelessly, often revealing secrets or private information.
• Example: “He’s got a loose tongue; you can’t tell him anything without the whole world knowing.”

Have a Taste for Something

• Meaning: To have a preference or desire for something.
• Example: “After dinner, I always have a taste for something sweet.”

Leave a Bad Taste in One’s Mouth

• Meaning: To cause someone to feel disappointed or unpleasant.
• Example: “The way he treated her left a bad taste in her mouth.”

Can’t Stomach Something

• Meaning: To be unable to tolerate or accept something.
• Example: “I can’t stomach horror movies; they give me nightmares.”

So next time you’re looking to add some punch to your conversations, don’t be afraid to reach for a mouth idiom! They’ll add a touch of humor and personality to your communication, making you a more engaging conversationalist.

What’s your favorite mouth idiom? Share it in the comments, and let’s get this conversation rolling!

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