wash one's mouth out

• wash out one's mouth

wash one's mouth out (third-person singular simple present washes one's mouth out, present participle washing one's mouth out, simple past and past participle washed one's mouth out)

1. (literally) To force a cleansing substance, usually soap, into someone's mouth; traditionally a punishment for use of foul language or lying by children.
2. (often imperative, figuratively, reflexive) In the wider world, to suppress one's speech, often in fear of punishment from those with greater authority.
   • 1970, Alline Bullock (lyrics), “Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter”, in Workin’ Together, performed by Ike & Tina Turner:

     Wash out your mouth, your lies are gettin' rusty

   • 1999 November 19, “A pother of pedants”, in The Guardian‎:

     Some Tory MPs think the Queen needs to wash her mouth out.

   • 2011 March 23, “James Cameron Shines like a star”, in The Guardian‎, retrieved 2021-11-12:

     But anybody who says Cameron was hedging his bets better had wash their mouth out; this was nothing more than the kind of away day where only the top names rock up.

• mouthsoap