poor mouth

¹

[ poor mohth ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a person who continually complains about a lack of money.
2. a plea or complaint of poverty, often as an excuse for not contributing to charities, paying bills, etc.

poor-mouth

²

[ poor-mouth ]

verb (used without object)

, poor-mouthed [poor, -moutht, -mou, th, d], poor-mouth·ing.

1. to lament or argue that one is too poor; plead poverty.

verb (used with object)

, poor-mouthed [poor, -moutht, -mou, th, d], poor-mouth·ing.

1. to declare (one's ability, power, position, etc.) to be inadequate or disappointing, sometimes as an intentional understatement; downplay:

   We know you're just poor-mouthing your skill at playing bridge—you're a good player.

2. bad-mouth.

poor mouth

noun

1. unjustified complaining, esp to excite sympathy

   she always has the poor mouth

verb

1. informal.
   to speak of disparagingly; decry

Word History and Origins

Origin of poor mouth¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Origin of poor mouth²

1965–70; Americanism; originally in verb phrases put up a poor mouth, make a poor mouth

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cry poor mouth, Informal. to complain, especially habitually, about a lack of money. Also talk a poor mouth.

Example Sentences

This boy was a prisoner, too, and yet he turns up all right and puts up a poor mouth about what he failed to do.

From Project Gutenberg

Not once did they put up a poor mouth and beg the Government to come to their help.

From Project Gutenberg

Poor mouth; making the poor mouth is trying to persuade people you are very poor—making out or pretending that you are poor.

From Project Gutenberg

See, children, just as soon as I say a word, mad like a wet hen he gets and right away puts on a poor mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet I am told that the old woman was not accustomed to "make a poor mouth," as the saying goes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curtail
• decrease
• diminish
• downplay
• lessen
• play down
• reduce
• trivialize
• underestimate