Mother idioms

Mother Vocabulary

'To keep Mum' and 'Mum's the word' are English sayings often used in conversation. If you are learning English as a foreign language, it is useful to understand how some sayings or phrases are used and (most importantly) what they mean.

Mother and daughter - - exploring mother idioms with HL Tutoring Services — Mother and daughter - exploring mother idioms with HL Tutoring Services

Mother Vocabulary

Can you think of alternative words for the word mother?

Alternative words for mother include:

Mum
Mummy
Mam
Mama
Ma
Mamma

Do you know what the following phrase means?

To keep Mum

Here is the phrase in a sentence:

I won't tell anyone; I'll keep Mum.

I will not tell anyone - exploring English vocabulary with HL Tutoring Services — I will not tell anyone;I will keep Mum

Here is a definition:

I’ll keep Mum = To keep something a secret.

Do you know what the following phrase means?

Mum's the word!

Mum is the word - exploring mother idioms with HL Tutoring Services — Mum is the word - exploring vocabulary with HL Tutoring Services

The phrases above are all idioms.

What is an idiom?

An idiom is a figurative expression or saying; it has an established meaning that isn’t directly linked to the individual words.

Here is the idiom in a sentence:

-If I tell you what happened last night will you promise not to tell anyone?

-I promise. Mum’s the word!

Here is a definition:

Definition of Mum's the word = to remain silent; to keep something a secret

To remain silent - exploring mother idioms with HL Tutoring Services — Definition of Mum is the word = to remain silent; to keep something a secret

Here are some more idioms:

(To have) the mother of all something

I have the mother of all migraines.

I have the mother of all migraines. = An extreme example of something

Mummy’s boy!

Will you invite your wife to my birthday party? I’m not sure. I need to check with my Mum first. -You’re such a mummy’s boy!

A mummy’s boy! = A man or boy whose mother has too much influence on him

Shall I be mother/mum?

This dinner looks lovely? Who’s going to serve?

Shall I be mother, shall I serve?

Shall I be mother /mum? = A humorous way to ask if the speaker should serve food or drink; mostly linked with pouring tea

Can you guess the meaning of this idiom?

Like mother, like daughter!

Try using the idioms in your own sentences:

To keep Mum

Mum’s the word!

(To have) the mother of all something

Shall I be mother/mum?

Like mother, like daughter!

Native speakers use vocabulary like this in every day conversation so you should try using them in your conversation too. Take your English language skills up to the next level! This is especially true for intermediate and advanced English language learners.