Down in the mouth

Down in the mouth
Mouth Mouth (mouth), n.; pl. {Mouths} (mou[th]z). [OE. mouth, mu[thorn], AS. m[=u][eth]; akin to D. mond, OS. m[=u][eth], G. mund, Icel. mu[eth]r, munnr, Sw. mun, Dan. mund, Goth. mun[thorn]s, and possibly L. mentum chin; or cf. D. muil mouth, muzzle, G. maul, OHG. m[=u]la, Icel. m[=u]li, and Skr. mukha mouth.] 1. The opening through which an animal receives food; the aperture between the jaws or between the lips; also, the cavity, containing the tongue and teeth, between the lips and the pharynx; the buccal cavity. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence: An opening affording entrance or exit; orifice; aperture; as: (a) The opening of a vessel by which it is filled or emptied, charged or discharged; as, the mouth of a jar or pitcher; the mouth of the lacteal vessels, etc. (b) The opening or entrance of any cavity, as a cave, pit, well, or den. (c) The opening of a piece of ordnance, through which it is discharged. (d) The opening through which the waters of a river or any stream are discharged. (e) The entrance into a harbor. [1913 Webster]

3. (Saddlery) The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal. [1913 Webster]

4. A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece. [1913 Webster]

Every coffeehouse has some particular statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

5. Cry; voice. [Obs.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

6. Speech; language; testimony. [1913 Webster]

That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. --Matt. xviii. 16. [1913 Webster]

7. A wry face; a grimace; a mow. [1913 Webster]

Counterfeit sad looks, Make mouths upon me when I turn my back. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Down at the mouth} or {Down in the mouth}, chapfallen; of dejected countenance; depressed; discouraged. [Obs. or Colloq.]

{Mouth friend}, one who professes friendship insincerely. --Shak.

{Mouth glass}, a small mirror for inspecting the mouth or teeth.

{Mouth honor}, honor given in words, but not felt. --Shak.

{Mouth organ}. (Mus.) (a) Pan's pipes. See {Pandean}. (b) An harmonicon.

{Mouth pipe}, an organ pipe with a lip or plate to cut the escaping air and make a sound.

{To stop the mouth}, to silence or be silent; to put to shame; to confound.

{To put one's foot in one's mouth}, to say something which causes one embarrassment.

{To run off at the mouth}, to speak excessively.

{To talk out of both sides of one's mouth}, to say things which are contradictory. [1913 Webster +PJC]

The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. --Ps. lxiii. 11. [1913 Webster]

Whose mouths must be stopped. --Titus i. 11. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Down at the mouth — Mouth Mouth (mouth), n.; pl. {Mouths} (mou[th]z). [OE. mouth, mu[thorn], AS. m[=u][eth]; akin to D. mond, OS. m[=u][eth], G. mund, Icel. mu[eth]r, munnr, Sw. mun, Dan. mund, Goth. mun[thorn]s, and possibly L. mentum chin; or cf. D. muil mouth,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down at the mouth — Down Down, a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] 3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down in the mouth — Down Down, a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] 3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • down in the mouth — If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • down\ in\ the\ mouth — • down in the dumps • down in the mouth adj. phr. informal Sad or discouraged; gloomy; dejected. The boys were certainly down in the dumps when they heard that their team had lost …   Словарь американских идиом

  • down in the mouth — ► down in the mouth informal unhappy. Main Entry: ↑down …   English terms dictionary

  • down in the mouth — down at the mouth, informal See unhappy 1) …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • down in the mouth — adjective filled with melancholy and despondency gloomy at the thought of what he had to face gloomy predictions a gloomy silence took a grim view of the economy the darkening mood lonely and blue in a strange city depressed by the loss of his… …   Useful english dictionary

  • down in the mouth —    If someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy or depressed.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    When someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy, discouraged or depressed.     You look a bit down in the mouth. What s the matter? …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • down in the mouth — adjective Sad or discouraged, especially as indicated by ones facial appearance. Is the old un here? asked the robber. Yes, replied the voice, and precious down in the mouth he has been. Syn: dejected, disheartened, dispirited …   Wiktionary

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