mouth off
Definition
Verb: - To speak in a loud, rude, or boastful way, often without thinking or showing respect. It implies talking back, complaining angrily, or expressing an opinion in an impudent or unrestrained manner.
Usage
This verb is typically used informally to describe someone speaking in a way that is considered insolent, provocative, or unnecessarily argumentative. It often carries a negative connotation of disrespect or lack of restraint.
Examples
- The student was sent to the principal's office for mouthing off to the teacher.
- He's always mouthing off about politics, even when he doesn't know the facts.
- If you keep mouthing off to the coach, you'll be kicked off the team.
Advanced Usage
- "mouth off at [someone]": To speak rudely or defiantly directly to a specific person, especially an authority figure.
- You should never mouth off at a police officer.
- "mouth off about [something]": To complain or speak boastfully about a particular topic.
- He's been mouthing off about the new company policy all week.
Variants and Related Words
- Mouth (verb): To form words silently with the lips, or to speak in an affected or pompous way (e.g., ).
- Mouthy (adjective): Inclined to talk a lot, especially in a rude or cheeky manner.
- The mouthy customer was asked to leave the store.
Synonyms
- Sound off: To express one's opinions loudly or forcefully.
- Spout off: To speak at length in a boastful or opinionated way.
- Talk back: To answer someone, especially an authority figure, in a rude or defiant way.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Go off on [someone]: To suddenly start speaking angrily to someone.
- He went off on his coworker for a minor mistake.
- Sound off (about/on): To express one's views loudly and forcefully.
- She sounded off on the need for reform during the meeting.
Related Idioms
- Shoot one's mouth off: To talk recklessly or indiscreetly, often revealing secrets or making boasts one cannot support.
- He's always shooting his mouth off about things he shouldn't.
- Lip off: (Similar to "mouth off") To speak disrespectfully.
- Don't you lip off to me, young lady!
Verb
-
talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner