English idiom

put your money where your mouth is

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to back up your words with action, especially money

Why this phrase?

Words are cheap; the phrase demands the speaker place money down on the table to prove belief.

Example

“You keep promising to donate — put your money where your mouth is.”

Recorded usage

These full forms were measured in COCA in 2016–2017. Counts apply to the quoted form, not every use of this idiom; overlapping forms are not added together.

“Put your money where your mouth is” — 32 recorded occurrences

Grouped source variants; editorially classified here as an idiom. Usage counts are separate from CEFR difficulty.

Dictionary details

Component words

money

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

money talks

financial power can strongly influence what people decide or do

give someone a run for their money

to compete nearly as well as a much stronger opponent, forcing them to work hard for victory

seed money

the initial capital used to start a business

a rip-off

Something that is far too expensive for what it is.

bang for your buck

the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent

cost an arm and a leg

To be extremely expensive.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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