Put a sock in it

Meaning

"Put a sock in it" is an idiom that means to shut up or be quiet. It is a metaphorical way of telling someone to stop talking or being too loud, as if they were trying to stuff their foot into a sock and couldn't get it in.

Usage

Here are five sentences using the idiom "put a sock in it":

• John was so excited about his new car that he just kept talking about it non-stop. His friend told him, "Put a sock in it, John. We all know you're proud of your car."
• Sarah was venting to her coworker about how her boss never gives her any credit for her hard work. Her coworker said, "Put a sock in it, Sarah. You sound like a broken record."
• The baby was crying so loudly that the neighbors could hear her. Her mom said, "Put a sock in it, little one. We don't want to disturb anyone."
• The sports team had just lost their game, and the fans were booing loudly. The coach yelled, "Put a sock in it, guys. We'll get better next time."
• The neighbor was mowing his lawn so early in the morning that it was waking up everyone on the block. His other neighbor said, "Put a sock in it, guy. It's not your turn to mow yet."

Roots and History

The idiom "put a sock in it" is believed to have originated from the idea of stuffing one's foot into a sock too tightly, causing pain or discomfort. The phrase first appeared in print in the 16th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Over time, it has come to be used as a metaphorical way to tell someone to stop talking or being too loud, as if they were trying to stuff their words into someone else's ears and couldn't get them in.

Synonyms in English

Here are three other English idioms with the same Meaning

• "Shut up" - This is a more direct way of telling someone to stop talking.
• "Keep quiet" - This idiom emphasizes the importance of not saying anything, even if the person is tempted to.
• "Be quiet" - This idiom is similar to "keep quiet," but it is more polite and formal.

Synonyms in other languages

Here are five synonyms with translations and descriptions:

• Spanish - "Calla" (This word means "shut up" or "be quiet." It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.)
• French - "Étouffez-vous" (This phrase means "be quiet" or "shut up." It is often used in polite situations.)
• Italian - "Chiudere la bocca" (This idiom means "to shut the mouth" and emphasizes the importance of not speaking.)
• German - "Stumm sein" (This phrase means "to be quiet" or "shut up." It is often used in formal situations.)
• Arabic - "كذلك" (This idiom means "hush up" or "be quiet." It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.)

Similar Idioms

• play cat and mouse

• pop the question

• play by ear