bad-mouth

or bad·mouth

[ bad-mouth or, sometimes, -mouth ]

/ ˈbædˌmaʊθ or, sometimes, -ˌmaʊð /

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See synonyms for: bad-mouth / bad-mouthing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), bad-mouthed, bad-mouth·ing.

Slang. to speak critically and often disloyally of; disparage: Why do you bad-mouth your family so much?

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of bad-mouth

1935–40; originally a curse, spell (the sense recorded in Gullah); compare Vai (Mande language of Liberia and Sierra Leone) dà nyà mà curse, literally, bad mouth

OTHER WORDS FROM bad-mouth

bad-mouther, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bad-mouth in a sentence

We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I gotta say—I think this past year was pretty bad for music.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Ass-kicking, bad guy-killing Carter is just a future spinster.
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy|Melissa Leon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They all immediately dashed out to their car to catch the bad guys.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Terrorism is bad news anywhere, but especially rough on Odessa, where the city motto seems to be “make love, not war.”
Is Putin Turning to Terrorism in Ukraine?|Anna Nemtsova|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Aristide washed and powdered Jean himself, the landlord lounging by, pipe in mouth, administering suggestions.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Sol got up, slowly; took a backward step into the yard; filled his lungs, opened his mouth, made his eyes round.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
But such a thing had, nevertheless, come quite glibly out of her mouth, and she knew not why.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Miss Smith immediately rises from the table, puts up her dear little mouth to her papa to be kissed.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
The "bad form" of telling a lie to the head-master is a later illustration of the same thing.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for bad-mouth

bad-mouth

verb

(tr) slang to speak unfavourably about

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with bad-mouth

bad mouth

Disparage or criticize unduly, malign, as in Why do you constantly bad mouth your colleagues? This term is believed to be of African origin, where the phrase bad mouth signifies a curse or evil spell. [1930s]

bad-mouth

or bad·mouth

Origin of bad-mouth

OTHER WORDS FROM bad-mouth

Words related to bad-mouth

How to use bad-mouth in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bad-mouth

Other Idioms and Phrases with bad-mouth