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Glite Dictionary
to watch your language

to watch your language

19 7.2
To avoid saying rude or offensive words when you speak
  • idiom
translation icon : cuidar el lenguaje
  • Jesus! Daddy!" Conor looks at his son and says, "Watch your language."
  • Please watch your language
  • Hey, watch your language
  • tell you to watch your language

And he's told by the NASA guy, Hey, please watch your language.

Examples

  • Please watch your language.

    Elevator (2013)

  • Please watch your language when you're talking in front of the kids.

  • And watch your language at the table.

    Matchstick Men (2003)

  • I told you to watch your language.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "You ought to watch your language, especially around...."

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And for gosh sake, watch your language!

    Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

  • Watch your language in front of baby.

    This Could Be the Night (1957)

  • "You watch your language in front of the child!" she bridled, hurt.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Authoritarian voice: "Watch your language."

    Academic text (2011)

  • -Hey, watch your language.

    Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)

Synonyms

to mind one's language
vsto watch your language
  • Informal
1 7.2

Be careful not to use rude or hurtful words

is broader covering inappropriate words beyond just rude ones
to watch one's mouth
vsto watch your language
  • Informal
1 7.5

Be careful what you say to avoid offending someone

focuses on avoiding offensive or inappropriate words specifically

Antonyms

to speak one's mind
  • Informal
21 3.5

Say what you think openly

How Polite

to watch your language
19 7.2
to swear
  • Offensive
253 4.3

Surface Forms

watch your language infinitive

Morphology

watch + your + language

The instruction 'watch your language' is directly derivable from 'watch' (monitor/ be careful) + 'your language' (the words you use); it simply instructs someone to monitor or avoid offensive speech. The metonymic use of 'language' for 'word choice' and the imperative pattern are cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand the meaning.

Etymology

Watch your language gives a clear image: watch means 'look at' and language means 'the words you use', so you notice rude words and stop them. So it means 'be careful not to use rude or inappropriate words'.