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to mouth

to mouth

41 8.1
To move the lips to form words without making sound
  • verb
  • /maʊθ/
: mover los labios
  • And I saw him mouth the words, "Help us."
  • mouth the words

So he had to learn how to like mouth the words backwards.

Examples

  • Why did you mouth "I love you"?

  • The Marshal looks up, Fran looking hard at the picture and then mouthing the words: "They're here."

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I heard the story so often that I could mouth the words.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Or she would mouth her own name over and over to herself, moving her lips.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • "In your room," she said, mouthing the words as if they were part of a foreign language.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • And I saw him mouth: Richard mouths the words, "Help us."

    Fiction book (1996)
  • He was mouthing some of the words.

  • Mama's face and mine looked out, mouthing "Help," waiting for rescue.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • As Constance watches the President, she unconsciously mouths the words of his speech; after all, she did write them.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Why did you mouth "I love you"?

Synonyms

to lip-synch
vsto mouth
  • UK
9 6.6

To move your lips to match recorded singing or speech so it looks like you sing

is broader, including general silent facial movement and insincere speech
to mouth the words
vsto mouth
9 6.9

To move your lips to form words without making any sound

also includes saying things insincerely not only silent facial movement

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To talk with someone to share thoughts or feelings

Idioms

To say that someone said something when they did not

14 8.1

To show very strong anger or excitement in a way people can see

Show support by giving money or doing something to help

An unpleasant feeling of dislike after an experience

7 8.6

To be extremely angry and unable to control oneself

7 4.7

Directly from the person who knows the facts

People tell others instead of writing

hand to mouth
  • Informal
6 6.3

Living with only enough money for day to day needs and no savings

To accept a free gift without complaining and say thank you

To punish someone by putting soap in their mouth for swearing

4 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

hand-to-mouth
  • Informal
3 6.8

To live with only enough money to pay for basic needs and no savings

Directly from the person who knows the facts

1 8.4

Food or drink that gives a strong, exciting taste

1 7.8

Feeling sad or unhappy

To make someone lose the job or money they need to live

1 9.9

Talking too much in an annoying, uncontrolled way

1 9.4

Say things quickly without thinking that may hurt people or make you sorry later

1 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

1 9.3

A person who often uses rude words and swears

To claim someone said something they did not say

Seems very innocent and quiet but is not really kind

So soft and tender that it disappears when you eat it

To keep quiet to avoid saying something silly

1 7.5

Be careful what you say to avoid offending someone

1 4.4

To stop talking to keep a secret or when told to be quiet

To not pay attention and miss what is happening around you, for example because you are daydreaming

Talking confidently without doing what you promise

7.3

A feeling of being very nervous and afraid because something scary or unknown might happen

To say something embarrassing without meaning to

To support your words by giving money or doing work

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

Speak quietly so other people nearby do not hear you

To say different things to different people to hide the truth

To tell someone off for saying rude words, sometimes by putting soap in their mouth

Phrasal Verbs

to mouth off
  • Informal
36 8.3

To speak rudely and loudly to a person in charge

To move your lips to form words without making any sound

To say things carelessly or proudly without thinking about the result

Compounds

big mouth
  • Offensive
86 4.8

A person who talks too much and tells other people's secrets

45 2.6

Information people share by talking to each other

Giving air into another person's mouth when they are not breathing

10 3.4

Information spoken by people and passed from person to person

potty mouth
  • Offensive
10 9.1

A person who often says swear words

dry mouth
  • Specialized
7 3.2

A dry feeling in the mouth when you do not make enough saliva

mouth breather
  • Offensive
6 9.3

A person who seems not very smart or lacks social skills

Food that looks, smells, or tastes so good you want to eat it

5 4.1

To breathe air into someone's lungs using your mouth when they are not breathing

2 3.8

A very contagious viral disease of animals like cows or sheep that causes fever and mouth and hoof sores

metal mouth
  • Offensive
1 7.7

A person whose teeth have visible metal braces

1 4.9

An opening in clothing or a mask that lets you breathe and speak

A contagious disease that causes fever and painful sores on the mouth and feet of animals like cows and sheep

1 6.3

A small instrument you play by holding it to your mouth and blowing into holes

1 5.6

A small flat instrument you play by blowing and drawing air through holes

roof of the mouth
  • Specialized
1 3.7

The top inside surface of the mouth that separates it from the nose

trench mouth
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A very painful gum infection that causes mouth sores, bleeding and bad breath

bean mouth
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who talks too much and tells other people's secrets

A small wild orchid with a single bright pink fragrant flower that opens wide in bogs

9.9

A flexible bow held between the teeth and plucked to make music

A small North American orchid with one leaf and green flowers with very thin petals

How Clear

to shout
690 1.0
to say
∞ 1.0
to whisper
549 1.0
to murmur
84 4.2
to mouth
41 8.1

Surface Forms

mouth infinitive
mouthed past
mouthed past participle
mouthing present participle
mouths third person singular

Etymology

The verb mouth (to move your lips without making a sound) comes from the body part mouth because you form words with your mouth even when you are quiet. So an actor who 'mouthed' the words was shaping them with the lips but not making any sound.