C1idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
put words in someone's mouth
USUK
to say that someone said or meant something that they did not
Usually a complaint, often 'Don't put words in my mouth'. 'Put words into someone's mouth' is also correct. Not the same as 'take the words right out of someone's mouth' (say what they were about to say).
In context
Don't put words in my mouth; I never said the plan was bad.
The reporter put words in the minister's mouth to make a better headline.
More idioms about communication
- a bone of contentiona subject that people keep arguing about
- a broken recordsomeone who keeps repeating the same thing in an annoying way
- a heart-to-heartan honest, private conversation about personal feelings
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- a red herringa fact or idea that takes attention away from the real issue