ENGLISH
REFERENCE

put the bad mouth on

idiom
Meaning

To speak ill of; to vilify.


Origin

disputed origin

Compare badmouth.

Examples
SIMPLE

Do not put the bad mouth on your coworkers.

CONTEXTUAL

He always puts the bad mouth on his former boss whenever he talks to new colleagues.

COMPLEX

Despite her professional success, she felt hurt that her rival continued to put the bad mouth on her reputation behind her back.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all mouth and no trousers

    Alternative form of all mouth and trousers.

  2. 02

    all mouth and trousers

    Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.

  3. 03

    all one's taste is in one's mouth

    One lacks good taste in aesthetic or cultural matters.

  4. 04

    bad actor

    An individual or entity with a prior criminal conviction, or who has been sanctioned by the court or regulator.

  5. 05

    bad apple

    A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.

  6. 06

    bad books

    Disfavor.

  7. 07

    bad business

    Synonym of bad news (“irritating, troublesome or harmful thing, situation or person”).

  8. 08

    bad company

    The wrong crowd.

Last updated April 17, 2026