poor-mouth

poor-mouth
\\ˈ ̷ ̷ ˌmau̇th, -th\ verb
Etymology: poor mouth, noun
: to plead poverty as a defense or excuse

usually poor-mouths when it's his turn to contribute

: to speak disparagingly of

* * *

/poor"mowth'/, v., poor-mouthed /-mowtht', -mowdhd'/, poor-mouthing. Informal.
v.i.
1. to lament or argue that one is too poor; plead poverty.
v.t.
2. to 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.
3. bad-mouth.
[1965-70; Amer.; orig. in v. phrases put up a poor mouth, make a poor mouth]

* * *

poorˈ-mouth intransitive verb
To claim poverty
transitive verb
To malign
• • •
Main Entry: ↑poor

* * *

Dialect or Informal.
1. a claim or complaint of poverty, especially when exaggerated: »

We read the news article…accusing us of making a poor mouth about Princess Margaret's bills (New York Times).

2. a person who makes such a claim or complaint: »

Roblin [was] castigating his opponents as “poor mouths”…who had no faith in Manitoba's future (Canadian Saturday Night).

poor-mouth «PUR MOWTH», intransitive verb, transitive verb.
Informal. to complain of one's economic or other circumstances; speak belittlingly or apologetically of oneself or one's position: »

Players from 28 nations…whizzed in on a chartered plane…poor-mouthing in many tongues that they were used to clay courts and expected to play miserably on the grass (Time).

* * *

v. informal
1) [trans.] talk disparagingly about

I used to poor-mouth corporate jets, but now that I've had the use of one I really appreciate it

2) [intrans.] claim to be poor

[as adj.] poor-mouthing the poor-mouthing museum is not exactly eager to publicize this good fortune


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • poor-mouth — /poor mowth /, v., poor mouthed / mowtht , mowdhd /, poor mouthing. Informal. v.i. 1. to lament or argue that one is too poor; plead poverty. v.t. 2. to declare (one s ability, power, position, etc.) to be inadequate or disappointing, sometimes… …   Universalium

  • poor-mouth — [poor′mouth΄, poor′mouth΄] vi. Informal to complain about one s lack of money; plead poverty …   English World dictionary

  • poor-mouth — poor′ mouth [[t] maʊθ[/t]] v. [[t] maʊθt, maʊðd[/t]] Informal. 1) cvb inf to plead or complain of poverty 2) cvb inf to disparage; bad mouth • Etymology: 1965–70; amer …   From formal English to slang

  • poor mouth — poor′ mouth n. cvb inf a plea or complaint of poverty, often as an excuse for not contributing to charities, paying bills, etc • Etymology: 1815–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • poor mouth — noun Midland : a profession or protestation of poverty often used with make when you ask him for a donation he makes a poor mouth * * * Informal. 1. a person who continually complains about a lack of money. 2. a plea or complaint of poverty,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • poor-mouth — 1. tv. to speak ill of someone. (See also bad mouth.) □ Please don’t poor mouth my brother. □ There’s no need to poor mouth your clothing. 2. in. to speak repeatedly of how little money one has; to plead poverty. □ She’s got money, but she’s… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • poor mouth — Informal. 1. a person who continually complains about a lack of money. 2. a plea or complaint of poverty, often as an excuse for not contributing to charities, paying bills, etc. 3. cry poor mouth. to complain, esp. habitually, about a lack of… …   Universalium

  • poor-mouth —    to ignore or refer to in unfavourable terms    A more consistent practice than the occasional denigration implied when you bad mouth:     Naturally the Chinese have always poormouthed the foreign built railways contribution to their economic… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • poor-mouth — {v.} To be constantly complaining about one s poverty; keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor mouthing, but we know that he has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • poor-mouth — {v.} To be constantly complaining about one s poverty; keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor mouthing, but we know that he has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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