MOUTH idioms (body idioms)

Contents

What is a mouth?
mouth idioms list
mouth idioms list with pictures

What is a mouth?

The mouth is located on the lower part of the face. You know the one, we use it to speak all that lovely English we’ve been learning here! The plural is ‘mouths’ (the ‘th’ is voiceless in plural).

mouth idioms list

Let’s look at some popular body idioms that contain the word ‘mouth’.

all mouth and no trousers
meaning – someone says they are going to do something but never do
example – Stop being a wimp and ask him out, you’re all mouth and no trousers.
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
meaning – born into a rich family
example – I would hate to have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I like working for my things.
don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
meaning – don’t be ungrateful, graciously accept gifts
example – I know you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but I really can’t accept £500.
foot in mouth disease
meaning – say inappropriate/insensitive things at the wrong time
example – Please don’t let Andy speak to the clients, he’s got foot in mouth disease.
have a big mouth
meaning – someone talks a lot and can’t keep secrets
example – Corey has a big mouth; I hope a year 11 shuts him up one day.
like butter wouldn’t melt (in someone’s mouth)
meaning – someone gives the impression of being sweet and innocent
example – My kids look like butter wouldn’t melt, but they’re little devils.

live from hand to mouth
meaning – very poor, have just enough money to survive
example – We are living from hand to mouth at the moment and we have another baby on the way.
make one’s mouth water
meaning – your mouth is full of saliva because of the smell/taste of food
example – The smell of my grandma’s cooking always made my mouth water.
put one’s money where one’s mouth is
meaning – make a bet or do something instead of just talking about it
example – The kitchen will be finished by summer. I’ll put my money where my mouth is.
put words into someone’s mouth
meaning – inaccurately report what someone has said
example – The journalist put words in my mouth. I didn’t say any of those horrible things.
straight from the horse’s mouth
meaning – hear something from the source/most reliable person
example – I don’t believe you. I need to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
watch one’s mouth
meaning – be careful about what you say
example – I have to watch my mouth around the children. They pick up bad words very quickly.
word of mouth
meaning – hear about something from people not through adverts
example – Most of our business comes from word of mouth.