Dictionary

froth at the mouth en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈfɹɔθ ət ðə ˈmaʊθ/ (General-American)
• /ˈfɹɒθ ət ðə ˈmaʊθ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Meanings

1. (literally) To spew saliva as froth.
   • What I suffered with that rein for four long months in my lady's carriage, it would be hard to describe, but I am quite sure that, had it lasted much longer, either my health or my temper would have given way. Before that, I never knew what it was to foam at the mouth, but now the action of the sharp bit on my tongue and jaw, and the constrained position of my head and throat, always caused me to froth at the mouth more or less. [1877], Anna Sewell, “A Strike for Liberty”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 109:
   • Police said that he bought a 54-gallon drum of poisonous methyl alcohol, often used for hot-rod fuel, and mixed it with well water, peach flavoring, regular moonshine and a "beading oil" calculated to make it foam when shaken. Seventy-seven gallons were delivered. Within hours Atlanta's Grady Negro Clinic began to fill with men and women who panted, frothed at the mouth and writhed in horrible convulsions. 1951 November 5, “Manners & Morals: Americana”, in Time, archived from the original on 23 Nov 2010:
   • The symptoms of acute nitrate poisoning are quite characteristic provided the affected animals are not disturbed. In the early stages the animal stops eating, froths at the mouth and has abdominal pain and diarrhoea. 1963 August 15, “[Trends and Discoveries:] Nitrate Poisoning in Ruminants”, in New Scientist, volume 19, number 352, London: New Science Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 348, column 3:
   • He was so excited, he was almost frothing at the mouth. 1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer:
2. (figuratively) To rage, to vent one's anger.
   • 'Damn the Whitecoats!' cried Snitter, frothing at the mouth. 'Damn Annie, damn the policeman and the white bell-car! Damn you all, damn you! You've killed my master!' 1977, Richard Adams, “Friday the 15th October”, in The Plague Dogs, London: Allen Lane, →ISBN; republished Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books in association with Rex Collings Ltd and Allen Lane, 1978, →ISBN, page 42:
   • She was almost frothing at the mouth when she heard about the cost of the car repairs.

Forms

Synonyms

foam at the mouth · froth at the gash

Translations (27)

sv tugga fradga (spew saliva as froth) · sv fradga (rage) · pl pienić się (spew saliva as froth) · gl rabiar (rage) · sv tugga fradga (rage) · es espumajear (spew saliva as froth) · pl mieć pianę na ustach (rage) · mi kua puhipuhi te tero o Tāwhiri (rage) · pl spienić się (spew saliva as froth) · gl botar escuma pola boca (spew saliva as froth) · sv fradga (spew saliva as froth) · fr fulminer (rage) · cy ewynnu poer (spew saliva as froth) · fr écumer de rage (rage) · cmn 大發雷霆 /大发雷霆 (rage) · hu tajtékzik (mérgében/a dühtől) (rage) · he קָצַף (rage) · mk се пењави (spew saliva as froth) · grc ἀφρίζω (spew saliva as froth) · mk се пењави (rage) · pl spieniać się (spew saliva as froth) · fi tulla vaahtoa suusta (spew saliva as froth) · es echar espumarajos por la boca (rage) · ru с пе́ной у рта (rage) · hu habzik a szája (spew saliva as froth) · cmn 口吐白沫 (spew saliva as froth) · fi vaahdota (rage)

wikipedia: Wellcome Library