bad mouth

USAGE SUMMARY

"bad mouth" is a perfectly valid expression used in written English.
It means to speak badly or critically of someone or something. For example: He always has a bad mouth for his boss during lunch break.

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Do not bad mouth their ex even if they are bad mouthing them.

WikiHow

Do not bad mouth your ex-employer.

The Guardian

Not to bad mouth Sony again, but I hope there's another update that comes out soon.

TechCrunch

"I'm not here to try to bad mouth.

Los Angeles Times

How can Tony Dungy bad mouth Peyton Manning?

Huffington Post

To be sure, he absolutely did not bad mouth Manning.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

He would bad-mouth other people".

The New Yorker

So don't bad-mouth government programs.

The New York Times

He doesn't brag or bad-mouth.

The New York Times - Magazine

Don't just bad-mouth the government, she would say.

The Economist

Fuk and Rebecca didn't get along, and would bad-mouth each other to their husbands.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase works best in informal to neutral contexts. In professional business writing, consider switching to "disparage" or "speak unfavorably of" to maintain a polished tone.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase when you mean to describe oral hygiene or a physical condition of the mouth. In those cases, use specific adjectives like "unhealthy mouth" or "sore mouth". Additionally, do not confuse it with having a "foul mouth", which specifically refers to using profanity rather than just being critical.

Linguistic Context

As demonstrated by Ludwig, "bad mouth" functions as an idiomatic transitive verb. It is used to indicate the action of disparaging a person or entity. While it appears in the provided data frequently in the imperative form (e.g., "Don't bad mouth"), Ludwig AI confirms its validity as an active verb phrase in various tenses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

42%

Reference

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

3%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "bad mouth" is a versatile and widely recognized English idiom used to describe the act of speaking critically or negatively about someone. Ludwig and Ludwig AI confirm that it is a valid and frequent expression in both informal guides and prestigious news outlets. While it is perfectly acceptable in most writing, authors should be aware that its tone is somewhat casual. For high-stakes professional or academic environments, substituting it with more formal synonyms like "disparage" or "malign" will ensure a more sophisticated register. Ultimately, it remains a powerful tool for describing social behavior and workplace ethics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

speak ill of

Provides a more traditional and slightly more formal way to express criticism of someone

bad-mouth

The hyphenated variant often used in American English dictionaries as the standard spelling

disparage

A formal academic term that implies a more intellectual or systematic belittling

run down

A common phrasal verb that functions similarly in informal conversation

criticize

A neutral alternative that removes the idiomatic flavor while maintaining the core meaning

malign

Carries a stronger connotation of intending to harm someone's reputation through lies

trash talk

A very informal slang alternative often used in competitive or sports contexts

denigrate

Suggests a formal or unfair attack on someone's character or achievements

slag off

A British slang term that is significantly more informal and colloquial

vilify

Implies a much more intense or public level of criticism, turning someone into a villain

FAQs

Is "bad mouth" one word or two?

It is most frequently written as two words, "bad mouth", though the hyphenated version "bad-mouth" is also very common in journalistic writing. Some dictionaries recognize "badmouth" as a single word, but it is the least frequent form.

What is a formal synonym for "bad mouth"?

If you are writing a formal report or a professional email, you should use "disparage", "criticize", or "denigrate" instead of "bad mouth".

Is it correct to say someone has a "bad mouth"?

While technically correct, this phrasing can be ambiguous. It might imply someone uses "bad language" (profanity) or that they have a habit of being critical. To be clearer, say someone is "bad-mouthing others" if you mean they are being critical.

What is the difference between "bad mouth" and gossip?

To "bad mouth" someone is specifically to speak critically or negatively about them. "Gossip" can include any idle talk or rumors, which may or may not be negative.