wash one's mouth out
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English
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Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]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.
Pronunciation
[edit]Verb
[edit]wash one's mouth out (third-person singular simple present washes one's mouth out, present participle washing one's mouth out, simple past and past participle washed one's mouth out)
- (usually imperative, figuratively) To stop using bad language, or atone for doing so.
- 1970, “Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter”, in Alline Bullock (lyrics), Workin’ Together, performed by Ike & Tina Turner:
- Wash out your mouth, your lies are gettin' rusty
- 1999 November 19, “A pother of pedants”, in The Guardian:
- Some Tory MPs think the Queen needs to wash her mouth out.
- 2011 March 23, “James Cameron Shines like a star”, in The Guardian, retrieved 2021-11-12:
- 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.
- 2011 October 19, Ben Smith, “Wigan ‘will quit’ if Premier League becomes closed shop”, in The Times:
- “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.”
- 2019 October 8, John Bercow, “Preparations for Leaving the EU”, in parliamentary debates[1], volume 664, column 1674:
- 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.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wash out, mouth.
- 1956, Encounter[2], volume 6, page 30:
- The foreigners content themselves with washing their hands. The Moors wash their mouths out with soap also, blowing bubbles and gargling happily.
Related terms
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[edit]literal use
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