Etymology Journal ยท W
Watch your mouth!
Meaning
- A warning to someone to stop using foul or disrespectful language. It is often said by parents or authority figures.
Stern, corrective
Used in a sentence
- Watch your mouth, young man, we do not use that language here.
- You better watch your mouth before you say something you regret.
- Watch your mouth, your grandmother is sitting right there.
The backstory
This is a classic idiom for controlling one's speech. It implies that the mouth is a gateway for trouble.
Heard in
Nationwide
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