Mash Your Mouth

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "mash your mouth" is a threat made when someone is being sassy or mouthy. It means to smack or hit the mouth to stop the backtalk.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I heard the threat 'I'll mash your mouth' for sassin' plenty enough growin' up, but I haven't heard it in awhile.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I heard the threat 'I'll mash your mouth' for sassin' plenty enough growin' up, but I haven't heard it in awhile.

Pronunciation

[MASH yur MOWTH]

Meaning & Usage

- A threat of punishment for sass or backtalk (verb phrase, figurative)

Mae:

He got mouthy again?

Earl:

Yep, and I told him I’d mash his mouth.

★ The word "mash" gives this phrase its Southern flavor. Country folks say "mash the button" or "mash the brakes," so "mash your mouth" fits the same pattern. ★

Origin and Etymology

"Mash" has meant "to press or crush" since Old English, but in Southern and Appalachian speech it’s used broadly in place of "press" or "smash." This gave rise to colorful phrases like "mash your mouth."

Usage Notes

Still remembered in Southern/Appalachian families as a strong scolding phrase. It’s rarely meant literally - often more of a warning to stop sass than a promise of real punishment. See also: hush your mouth, bust your rear end.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "mash yer mouth."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it literally mean mashing someone’s mouth?

No - it’s figurative, usually a threat to stop sass.

Is it still used today?

Rare, but older generations remember it.

Why "mash" instead of "smash"?

In Southern/Appalachian speech, "mash" is commonly used where others would say "press" or "smash."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Mash Your Mouth. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/mash-your-mouth
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Mash Your Mouth." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/mash-your-mouth.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Mash Your Mouth." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/mash-your-mouth.

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