poor mouth

¹ American  

[poor mohth] / ˈpʊər ˌmoʊθ /

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.

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idioms

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

poor-mouth ² American  

[poor-mouth] / ˈpʊərˌmaʊθ /

verb (used without object)

poor-mouthed, poor-mouthing

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

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verb (used with object)

poor-mouthed, poor-mouthing

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 British  

noun

1. unjustified complaining, esp to excite sympathy

   she always has the poor mouth

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verb

1. informal to speak of disparagingly; decry

Etymology

Origin of poor mouth¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Origin of poor-mouth²

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

Example Sentences

We are not going to cry the poor mouth, other than to say the reality of this challenge is too much.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2011

But what is making Mancini put on the poor mouth?

From The Guardian • Sep. 24, 2010

"Oh, Lor', you wor allus one for makin' a poor mouth, Patton!" said Mrs. Jellison.

From Marcella by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

Always a great one for a poor mouth he was, Mr. Teitlebaum, even when he had it.

From Just Around the Corner Romance en casserole by Hurst, Fannie

It was strange to see "the funny man" lying flat on his pillow, with hollow, sleepless eyes, and lines of pain round his poor mouth.

From A Fortunate Term by Brazil, Angela

Related Words

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