Idiom
Word of mouth
Word of mouth is news or information that spreads when people tell each other, rather than through ads or writing.
How people use it
The common pattern is by word of mouth (we found our plumber by word of mouth). Before a noun it is hyphenated, as in word-of-mouth marketing or a word-of-mouth hit. Businesses value it because people trust a friend's recommendation more than an advertisement. The phrase is neutral and works in both casual and formal writing. It describes the spreading itself, not gossip, so the news can be good or bad.
Also said: by word of mouth, word-of-mouth.
Examples
- The little taco stand never advertised; it became famous by word of mouth.
- Most of our new piano students find us through word of mouth from happy parents.
- Word-of-mouth praise turned the small film into a surprise hit.
Where it comes from
The phrase has been used in English since at least the 1500s, when 'by word of mouth' meant spoken aloud rather than written down. Its meaning has stayed close to that original idea. The modern business sense, with personal recommendations acting as a kind of free advertising, became popular in the 1900s.
Check yourself
1. If a bakery grew by word of mouth, how did it grow?
Answer: Customers recommended it to others. Word of mouth means news spread by people talking to each other, not by ads or flyers.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The neighborhood cleanup was organized entirely by word of mouth.. Neighbors telling each other about a cleanup is word of mouth. Typing and keeping secrets do not fit.
Word game fan? See every word hiding in MOUTH.