Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

wash one's mouth out

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.04 in modern English

Syllables: wash one's -mouth out
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To stop using bad language, or atone for doing so.

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wash out, mouth.

Example Sentences

"Wash out your mouth, your lies are gettin' rusty"
"Some Tory MPs think the Queen needs to wash her mouth out."
"But anybody who says Cameron was hedging his bets better had wash their mouth out; this was nothing more than the kind of away day where only the top names rock up."
"“What’s all this madness I’m hearing about there being no promotion or relegation from the PL?” he tweeted. “Wash your mouth out whoever suggested that.”"
"All these references to named individuals are quite improper. […] He should wash his mouth out, and should refer to Ministers not by name but by title, which he is well able to do."
"The foreigners content themselves with washing their hands. The Moors wash their mouths out with soap also, blowing bubbles and gargling happily."

Etymology

From the formerly common practice of punishing children who have lied or used foul language by forcing them to wash their mouths using a cleansing substance, typically soap.

Inflected Forms

washes one's mouth out (present, singular) washing one's mouth out (participle, present) washed one's mouth out (participle, past) washed one's mouth out (past) wash out one's mouth (alternative)

Phrases

watch one's mouth

Frequently Paired Words

mouthsoap watch one's mouth

Questions

What does wash one's mouth out mean?: To stop using bad language, or atone for doing so.
Where does wash one's mouth out come from?: From the formerly common practice of punishing children who have lied or used foul language by forcing them to wash their mouths using a cleansing substance, typically soap.

How to pronounce wash one's mouth out

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