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Glite Dictionary
to watch one's mouth

to watch one's mouth

1 7.5
Be careful what you say to avoid offending someone
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : cuidar lo que se dice
  • You need to watch your mouth if you want to keep your friends.

Examples

Synonyms

to watch your language
vsto watch one's mouth
19 7.2

To avoid saying rude or offensive words when you speak

focuses on avoiding offending or angering others rather than only rude words
to mince words
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
16 7.1

Speak in a careful, indirect way to avoid offending people

emphasizes careful wording to avoid offence rather than indirect phrasing
to think before you speak
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
4 3.5

To pause and imagine how your words will affect others before you say them

emphasizes general caution in wording to avoid offence rather than only planning
to hold one's tongue
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
3 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

advises choosing words carefully to prevent offence rather than complete silence
to mind one's language
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
1 7.2

Be careful not to use rude or hurtful words

focuses more on avoiding offending or angering people generally
to bite one's tongue
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
1 6.1

Stop yourself from saying something you want to say because it would be rude

prefers careful wording to prevent offence rather than remaining silent
to mind one's Ps and Qs
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Archaic
1 8.6

Be careful about how you behave and what you say to be polite

focuses specifically on avoiding offence in speech rather than general manners
to say less and listen
vsto watch one's mouth
  • Informal
7.5

To speak less and pay attention to other people's words

focuses on avoiding offence in speech rather than staying silent to listen

Antonyms

to speak one's mind
  • Informal
21 3.5

Say what you think openly

How Tactful

to watch one's mouth
  • Informal
1 7.5
unthinking
4 4.9

Surface Forms

watch one's mouth infinitive
watched one's mouth past
watched one's mouth past participle
watching one's mouth present participle
watches one's mouth third person singular

Morphology

watch + one + mouth

The meaning 'be careful about what one says' is directly derivable from combining 'watch' (to monitor or be careful about) with 'one's mouth' (the organ used for speaking) — i.e., monitor your speech. This is a straightforward compositional pattern in English and is likely understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

The idiom watch one's mouth makes you imagine someone deciding to watch their own mouth so bad words do not come out. So it means 'to be careful about what you say' and 'to avoid upsetting or offending others'.