The phrase down in the mouth first appeared in the mid-1600s, and simply refers to the fact that people who are unhappy are usually depicted with a frown, a facial expression that involves a downturn at the corners of the mouth. ... When used as an adjective before a noun, the phrase is hyphenated as in down-in-the-mouth.

What does down in the mouth mean?

down in the mouth in American English

or down at the mouth. Informal. depressed; unhappy; discouraged.

What is the meaning of the idiom mouth to mouth?

: of, relating to, or being a method of artificial respiration in which the rescuer's mouth is placed tightly over the victim's mouth in order to force air into the victim's lungs by blowing forcefully enough every few seconds to inflate them.

What is a wet squib?

Noun. damp squib (plural damp squibs) (literally) A firework that has been wet and therefore fails to go off correctly. (idiomatic, by extension) Anything that doesn't work properly, or fails to come up to expectations; a dud.

What is two and two put together?

Definition of put two and two together

: to make a correct guess based on what one has seen or heard : to figure something out You weren't home so I put two and two together and went back to your office to find you.

Down in the Mouth

37 related questions found

What does cant see the wood for the trees mean?

Definition of not see the wood for the trees

British. : to not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it.

What is the meaning of the idiom to eat a humble pie?

informal. : to admit that one was wrong or accept that one has been defeated They had to eat humble pie when the rumors they were spreading were proved false.

What does it mean to have an AXE to grind?

phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval] He seems like a decent bloke and I've got no axe to grind with him. [ + with]

What does bolt from the blue mean?

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

What does taking someone for a ride mean?

1. Cheat or deliberately mislead someone, as in Car salesmen will take you for a ride in more ways than one! [

What is the meaning of see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Definition of a light at the end of the tunnel

: a reason to believe that a bad situation will end soon or that a long and difficult job will be finished soon They are falling deeper into debt, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

What is the meaning of ear to ear?

Meaning: To smile happily. Example: On hearing the good news, Jenny grinned from ear to ear.

Whats the meaning of cardio?

Cardio- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “heart.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms. Cardio- comes from the Greek kardía, meaning “heart.” In fact, the English word heart and the Greek kardía are related.

What does play the second fiddle mean?

: one that plays a supporting or subservient role.

What does give them the runaround mean?

informal. : to fail to give (someone) information or help that he or she needs by not answering questions or by not dealing with the problem directly Their customer representatives keep giving me the runaround.

What means feel blue?

To feel blue means to feel sad. Examples: I don't want to go out.

What does a fish out of water mean?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

What is the meaning of cry over spilled milk?

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Meaning & History

No matter how you say the proverb, “don't cry over spilled milk” or “it's no use crying over spilled milk,” the phrase means that there's no point to being upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

What's the meaning of keep your eyes peeled?

Definition of 'to keep your eyes peeled'

If you tell someone to keep their eyes peeled for something, you are telling them to watch very carefully for it. [informal]

Can't cut the mustard meaning?

(also can't cut the mustard) to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way: If he can't cut it, then we'll get someone else to do the job.

What does I have a bone to pick with you mean?

Having a “bone to pick with someone” means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: “I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night.”

What is the meaning of end in smoke?

'To end in smoke' means to come to nothing; to have no positive result.

What does the expression eat crow mean?

US, informal. : to admit that one was wrong or accept that one has been defeated He was forced to eat crow when the company fired him.

What does the idiom When Pigs Fly mean?

US, informal. —used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.

What is the meaning of the idiom a snake in the grass?

snake in the grass in British English

(sneɪk ɪn ðə ɡrɑːs) noun. informal. a deceitful or treacherous person. He's just a snake in the grass and a guy you can't trust.