# mouth of a sailor

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/mouth-of-a-sailor
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.

## Examples

- He has the mouth of a sailor when he gets angry.
- I was surprised when the polite teacher suddenly developed the mouth of a sailor after hitting her thumb with a hammer.
- Despite his refined appearance and expensive suit, he possessed the mouth of a sailor, shocking his dinner guests with a sudden outburst of profanity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.