wash one's mouth out

Alternative forms

• wash out one's mouth

Etymology

From the formerly common practice of punishing children who have lied or used foul language by forcing them to wash their mouths using a cleansing substance, typically soap.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

wash one's mouth out (third-person singular simple present washes one's mouth out, present participle washing one's mouth out, simple past and past participle washed one's mouth out)

1. (usually imperative, figuratively) To stop using bad language, or atone for doing so.
   • 1970, “Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter”, in Alline Bullock (lyrics), Workin’ Together, performed by Ike & Tina Turner:

     Wash out your mouth, your lies are gettin' rusty

   • 1999 November 19, “A pother of pedants”, in The Guardian:

     Some Tory MPs think the Queen needs to wash her mouth out.

   • 2011 March 23, “James Cameron Shines like a star”, in The Guardian, retrieved 2021-11-12:

     But anybody who says Cameron was hedging his bets better had wash their mouth out; this was nothing more than the kind of away day where only the top names rock up.

   • 2011 October 19, Ben Smith, “Wigan ‘will quit’ if Premier League becomes closed shop”, in The Times:

     “What’s all this madness I’m hearing about there being no promotion or relegation from the PL?” he tweeted. “Wash your mouth out whoever suggested that.”

   • 2019 October 8, John Bercow, “Preparations for Leaving the EU”, in parliamentary debates‎, volume 664, column 1674:

     All these references to named individuals are quite improper. […] He should wash his mouth out, and should refer to Ministers not by name but by title, which he is well able to do.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wash out,‎ mouth.
   • 1956, Encounter‎, volume 6, page 30:

     The foreigners content themselves with washing their hands. The Moors wash their mouths out with soap also, blowing bubbles and gargling happily.

See also

• watch your mouth