by word of mouth

Examples

• All

• Though they did not have access to the Internet, they kept the message alive by word of mouth.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Otherwise, all communication was by word of mouth, person to person.

  Fiction book (1999)

• I only get business by word of mouth and hope to keep it that way.

  Blog text (25)

• Overall, the courses are very popular and draw students from across the university by word of mouth.

  Academic text (1998)

• Lawyers get business one way here: by word of mouth.

  Academic text (1994)

• Apparently, homeowners have heard about it by word of mouth and want to try it.

  Academic text (2000)

• I do not search out jobs but am asked to do weddings by word of mouth.

  Blog text (25)

• It's really a community that goes by word of mouth, and everyone trusts you even if they haven't met you.

  Academic text (2009)

• The book sold several thousand copies every year, primarily by word of mouth, until someone passed a copy to Robert Redford.

  Academic text (2011)

• Usually you will hear about them by word of mouth, although some do advertise or have websites.

  Blog text (18)

Synonyms

O

orally

vsby word of mouth

6 3.3

To say something rather than write it

is the same meaning but in a longer phrase form

V

viva voce

vsby word of mouth

• UK

8.4

To speak aloud rather than write

is neutral everyday phrasing rather than formal speech use

Antonyms

I

in writing

99 2.6

Someone writes it on paper or in a document instead of saying it

D

documented

3.7

Proved by written or official papers

How Oral

by word of mouth

4 3.5

face-to-face

7 2.8

to telephone

20 1.0

in writing

99 2.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology