Mouth Expressions:  You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

Jill Moss
16 July 2006

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"Do not bad mouth me."

"I really put my foot in my mouth this time."  If this should happen, the speaker might feel "down in the mouth."  In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing.

Do not put words in my mouth."

"word of mouth."  This is general communication between people, like friends talking to each other.  "How did you hear about that new movie?" someone might ask. "Oh, by word of mouth."   A more official way of getting information is through a company or government "mouthpiece."  This is an official spokesperson.  Government-run media could also be called a "mouthpiece."

"You took the words right out of my mouth!"  Sometimes a person has a bad or unpleasant experience with another person.  He might say that experience "left a bad taste in my mouth."  Or the person might have had a very frightening experience, like being chased by an angry dog.  He might say: "I had my heart in my mouth."

"was born with a silver spoon in his mouth."

"from hand to mouth."  This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.

"a mouthy child."  The parents might even tell the child "to stop mouthing off."  

"running my mouth" long enough.


Voice of America Special English
www.manythings.org/voa/scripts/