make mouths
verb1
Dated, Usually, With "at" To make faces (at someone), to make fun (of someone), to laugh (at someone).
- Witness this army of such mass and charge Led by a delicate and tender prince, Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed Makes mouths at the invisible event, Exposing what is mortal and unsure To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, Even for an eggshell.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
- "I want to be jeered at by Punch! I want Punch to make mouths at me, and give me the benefit of his inimitable squeak and gibber.[…]"1887, Marie Corelli, Thelma:
1 more example
- She was saucy the next [moment], moving her head up and down, making "eyes" at Robert and making "mouths" at Beaudelet.1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening, page 85:
- Related terms
- make eyes, make faces, pull faces