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Glite Dictionary
to put one's money where one's mouth is

to put one's money where one's mouth is

8 6.5
To support your words by giving money or doing work
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : actuar en consecuencia
  • We need to put our money where our mouths are.
  • really put your money where your mouth is
  • willing to put your money where your mouth is
  • want to put your money where your mouth is

Examples

  • If you are pro-life, put your money where your mouth is and vote for lawmakers who can and will make changes.

    Blog text (12)

  • Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?

    Detroit Rock City (1999)

  • Then you better put your money where your mouth is.

    Turbo (2013)

  • It's about time you put your money where your mouth is.

    Blue Thunder (1983)

  • I see you put your money where your mouth is.

    The World Is Not Enough (1999)

  • Tom Smith put his money where his mouth was.

    Blog text (28)

  • Let him put his money where his mouth is!

    Blog text (32)

  • Put your money where your mouth is.

    Beerfest (2006)

  • So put your money where your mouth is and show us the math on this.

    Blog text (12)

  • If you really care about this cause, you need to put your money where your mouth is and donate.

Synonyms

to put your money where your mouth is
vsto put one's money where one's mouth is
  • Informal
3 6.0

Show support by giving money or doing something to help

is the same meaning but uses a different phrasing
to throw one's weight behind
vsto put one's money where one's mouth is
3 6.6

To support a person or idea by using your influence

prefers direct action or funds instead of influence or authority
to put one's hand in one's pocket
vsto put one's money where one's mouth is
8.1

To give money willingly, often when it is not needed

focuses on both actions and funds rather than only spending money

How Committed

to act
∞ 1.0
to put one's money where one's mouth is
  • Informal
8 6.5
to say
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

put one's money where one's mouth is infinitive
put one's money where one's mouth was past
put one's money where one's mouth has been past participle
putting one's money where one's mouth is present participle
puts one's money where one's mouth is third person singular

Morphology

put + one + money + where + one + mouth + be

The phrase uses a metaphorical mapping—'mouth' represents what someone says and 'put money' means to back those words with financial or practical support—so the overall meaning is not a straightforward composition of the literal parts. Because the connection is inferable (money backing speech) but requires cultural/idiomatic knowledge rather than purely literal combination, it is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Put one's money where one's mouth is paints a clear picture: instead of only talking with your mouth, you put money behind your words to prove you mean them. So it means 'to show support with actions or money'.