Etymology of Poormouthing

Hi, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Suzanne Wooten from McKinney, Texas.

Hi, Suzanne. Welcome to the show.

What’s up?

Thank you. Thanks.

I had a situation come up in my office regarding an expression I use, and no one in my building had heard it before.

So it made me wonder, A, where did I even pick it up, and B, if what I thought the meaning was accurate, if I was using it correctly.

And basically what I had said was we were talking about someone complaining about not having any money.

And I said, well, gosh, doesn’t it get old hearing them poor-mouthing all the time?

And everyone just looked at me, what does that mean?

And they range from probably 30s to 50s.

The majority of the people are from Texas.

One person’s from Seattle.

And I’m originally from Illinois.

So I explained it.

They all understood what I would have meant, but no one had ever heard the expression.

How did you explain it?

Well, what I said was I’ve always used it as someone who gripes about not having money when they do, or they spend money anyway.

So someone who’s either cheap or just likes to complain that they’re poor.

You know, I can’t afford lunch. I’m poor.

And then I went home and talked to my husband, who is from Germany originally, but very much in love with the English language.

And he said, no, no, it doesn’t mean that.

It’s a general denigration of people or things or whatever.

It’s used very generally.

Poor-mouthing.

You can poor mouth anything.

And so we have that debate as well.

So where did it come from and who’s right?

Well, you’re right.

I think he might be confusing it with bad mouth to bad mouth something.

But poor mouthing since the 1850s has meant, as you said, when somebody is moaning and complaining because they don’t have enough money.

And then the next day you’re like, well, you got new shoes and a new jacket.

Right.

Or it’s somebody who just will not leave well enough.

They keep complaining about their poor luck and misfortune and lack of money, but they don’t do anything to fix it.

Oh, good. Well, I’m right. So, Mark, one for me.

Yeah, kind of blaming their circumstances rather than their own effort.

Okay. So, is it a regional question?

It started out as regional.

The Dictionary of American Regional English actually says very specifically that it started out as regional from the American South, but is now widespread.

We’ve got it in Ohio.

We’ve got it obviously in Illinois, since that’s where you’re from, and throughout the United States.

However, it’s not common, but it is widespread, if that makes sense.

Okay.

Yeah, I just could not figure out where it is.

I’ve just always known it and used it, and I have no clue where it came from.

Yeah.

Well, great.

At least I know I’m right.

And now I’m not as crazy as I thought I was.

It is accurate, and I’m using it in the right way.

Yeah.

You won that argument with your husband.

Thank you, Suzanne.

Appreciate the call.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Cheers now.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

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