to use your words
9
5.3
- idiom
- Informal
:
expresar con palabras
- We did end up having a fight on Valentine's Day, when I baked him cupcakes and he got me absolutely nothing, but the lesson I took away from that was not "dump him," it was "use your words."
And then realizing to use your words, that actually there's a fluidity to truth and anger is not necessarily bad or being sad.
- And then realizing to use your words, that actually there's a fluidity to truth and anger is not necessarily bad or being sad.
- Yeah, if you're going to be about it, be about it and don't do it from this bullshit like caught to use your words, coddling, Yeah, crappy whatever.
Examples
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Use your words however they best express what you're going through.
Blog text (27) -
Come on, use your words, buddy.
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Now we're gonna try using our words.
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All I hear is "Use your words. Use your words".
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Can you use your words, please?
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Thank you for using your words for the betterment and education of others.
Blog text (34) -
It's great to let them absorb values by osmosis, but every once in a while I feel we also need to use our words and tell our kids where we stand on important issues.
Blog text (25) -
How about using your words to write to your local or state politicians? It seems to me that would be a better use of your time than to try to promote a fundme website while bashing the people you are asking for donations from.
Blog text (19) -
It's important to use your words when you're feeling upset.
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The teacher encouraged the students to use your words to express their thoughts.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Speak words to show information or feelings
220
3.4
To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult
38
3.4
Show or say your emotions to other people
21
3.5
Say what you think openly
15
4.3
To put thoughts or feelings into words
9
4.8
To put thoughts or feelings into words
To say how you feel or what you need instead of using actions
Antonyms
How Expressive
∞
1.0
- Informal
9
5.3
4
3.4
4
4.1
231
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally tells someone to 'use' their 'words' — i.e., to speak or express themselves — so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer it means to express feelings or needs verbally. This is a straightforward compositional command (common in child-directed and conversational English) and aligns with comparable constructions in other languages, making the meaning transparent.
Etymology
Use your words is a phrase adults or teachers say to children to tell them to use their words and speak instead of crying or hitting. The simple image of a child pointing at a toy while an adult asks them to 'say what you want' helps explain why the phrase means 'say how you feel' or 'ask for help'.