WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
poor′ mouth′, [Informal.]
poor-mouth (pŏŏr′mouth′),USA pronunciation v., -mouthed (-moutht′, -mouᵺd′),USA pronunciation -mouth•ing. [Informal.]
v.i.
v.t.
- Informal Termsa person who continually complains about a lack of money.
- Informal Termsa plea or complaint of poverty, often as an excuse for not contributing to charities, paying bills, etc.
- Idioms cry poor mouth. to complain, esp. habitually, about a lack of money.
- 1815–25
poor-mouth (pŏŏr′mouth′),USA pronunciation v., -mouthed (-moutht′, -mouᵺd′),USA pronunciation -mouth•ing. [Informal.]
v.i.
- Informal Termsto lament or argue that one is too poor;
plead poverty.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto declare (one's ability, power, position, etc.) to be inadequate or disappointing, sometimes as an intentional understatement;
downplay:We know you're just poor-mouthing your skill at playing bridge—you're a good player. - Informal Termsbad-mouth.
- 1965–70; American; origin, originally in verb, verbal phrases put up a poor mouth, make a poor mouth