10 Interesting English Expressions with “Word”: Meanings and Examples

Key takeaways

• The word word appears in dozens of English expressions, none of which have anything to do with vocabulary or language. Each expression must be learned separately because the meaning is not predictable from the parts.
• Some expressions use word to mean a promise (give your word, a person of their word). Others use it to mean information or reputation (word of mouth, word gets out). Others use it in communication contexts (have a word with, get a word in).
• These expressions appear across formal and informal registers: not mince words appears in professional settings; take someone’s word for it and at a loss for words appear in everyday conversation.
• Knowing these 10 expressions covers most of the situations where word is used idiomatically in natural English.

The word word seems simple. Learners know it early. But then it starts appearing in sentences where it doesn’t seem to mean “a word”: She gave me her word. I couldn’t get a word in.

He didn’t mince words. These expressions have fixed meanings that can’t be derived from the individual words, which means each one needs to be learned as a unit.

This guide covers 10 common English expressions with word: word for word, give your word, word of mouth, have a word with, take someone’s word for it, a man/woman of their word, not mince words, get a word in edgewise, put in a good word for, and at a loss for words. Each is explained through its meaning, natural examples, and notes on tone and register.

Idioms become automatic through conversation, not through reading definitions. Book a session with an English language tutor on italki, a platform that has connected over 10 million learners with teachers since 2007, and use the session to practice these expressions inside the kinds of conversations where they actually come up.

1. word for word

Meaning: Exactly as said or written, verbatim, without changing anything.

She repeated his explanation word for word. I translated the document word for word, which is why it sounds odd. That’s what he said, word for word.

Word for word emphasizes exact reproduction with no paraphrasing or summarizing. It often carries a slight implication that someone is repeating something more precisely than might be expected, either to prove accuracy or to highlight something worth noting. It can also suggest that a word-for-word approach is the wrong strategy: translating word for word is a common criticism of overly literal translation.

2. give your word

Meaning: To make a serious promise or commitment.

He gave his word that the work would be finished by Friday. I give you my word, this won’t happen again. She gave her word and that’s good enough for me.

Give your word is more formal and serious than simply saying I promise. It implies that the speaker’s personal integrity is attached to the statement. Breaking your word is therefore more than breaking a promise; it damages your character. The expression also appears as keep your word (to honor a promise) and break your word (to fail to honor one).

3. word of mouth

Meaning: Information or reputation spread informally by people speaking to each other rather than through official channels, advertising, or media.

Most of our customers find us through word of mouth. The restaurant doesn’t advertise. It’s all word of mouth. Word of mouth spread the news faster than any press release could.

Word of mouth is widely used in business contexts to describe organic recommendation and reputation. It carries a positive implication: something good enough that people tell others about it without being paid to do so. Word-of-mouth marketing is an established marketing concept.

For learners building informal English vocabulary more broadly, the guide to British slang words covers 40 informal English expressions used in everyday British conversation.

4. have a word with someone

Meaning: To speak briefly to someone, usually to address something that needs to be discussed, corrected, or clarified. Often implies a mildly serious tone.

Could I have a word with you after the meeting? I’ll have a word with the supplier about the delays. Someone should have a word with him about his attitude.

The phrase is deliberately vague about what the conversation will cover, which is part of its function. Have a word with signals that a conversation is needed without announcing its content. When the tone is more serious, it escalates to have a serious word or have a strong word. It is rarely used for purely casual or positive conversations.

5. take someone’s word for it

Meaning: To believe what someone says without verifying or checking for yourself.

I’ve never been to Iceland, but I’ll take your word for it that it’s beautiful. You don’t have to prove it. I’ll take your word for it. He said the system was fixed, and I took his word for it. It wasn’t.

This expression often implies a degree of trust, sometimes appropriate and sometimes misplaced, as the third example shows. It can be used generously (I trust you, so I believe you) or critically (I shouldn’t have believed them without checking).

An English tutor can help you hear the different tones these expressions carry, which a definition cannot capture fully. italki has 30,000+ teachers across 150+ languages, including qualified English teachers who build fluency with idiomatic language through real conversational scenarios.

6. A man/woman of their word

Meaning: A person who keeps their promises and does what they say they will do. A person of integrity and reliability.

She said she’d return the money, and she did. She’s a woman of her word. He’s a man of his word. If he commits, he delivers. I need someone I can trust. Someone who’s a man of their word.

This expression is a character description, not a description of a single event. It’s used to describe someone whose pattern of behavior is reliable over time. The negative form, not a man/woman of their word, is also used, describing someone who consistently fails to follow through on commitments.

7. not mince words

Meaning: To speak directly and plainly, without softening or avoiding difficult truths.

She doesn’t mince words. She told him exactly what she thought. I won’t mince words: the results were disappointing. He said it bluntly, without mincing words.

The image in this expression comes from mince as in mincing meat: cutting something into very small, indistinct pieces. Mincing words would mean cutting up your message so carefully that the meaning disappears. Not mincing words means saying exactly what you mean, clearly and directly.

The expression often prepares the listener for feedback that might be hard to hear. I won’t mince words is a signal that what follows will be honest and possibly critical.

8. get a word in (edgewise)

Meaning: To manage to say something when other people are talking continuously and leaving no opportunity to speak.

She talks so fast I couldn’t get a word in. He dominated the whole meeting. Nobody else could get a word in edgewise. I tried to explain, but he was on the phone and I couldn’t get a word in.

Edgewise (also spelled edgeways in British English) refers to fitting something in sideways, suggesting that the only way to enter a conversation is to slip in from the side. The full form get a word in edgewise is standard in American English; get a word in edgeways is more common in British English. Both mean the same thing.

The expression is almost always used in negative form (couldn’t get a word in). The positive version (I finally got a word in) exists but is much less common.

9. put in a good word for someone

Meaning: To recommend someone or speak favorably about them to a person in a position to help them, especially for a job or opportunity.

Could you put in a good word for me with the hiring manager? She put in a good word for him, and he got the interview. I’ll put in a good word for you if I get the chance.

Put in a good word implies that a recommendation is being made informally and on someone else’s behalf. It is different from a formal written reference: it’s the kind of recommendation that happens in conversation. It carries the social weight of the recommender’s relationship with the decision-maker.

10. at a loss for words

Meaning: Unable to speak or respond, usually because of surprise, shock, emotion, or overwhelm.

She was at a loss for words when she heard the news. I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know what to say. The announcement left everyone in the room at a loss for words.

This expression describes a temporary inability to respond, not a permanent difficulty with language. It is most often used in situations of strong emotion: hearing unexpected good news, receiving a profound compliment, experiencing something shocking. It implies that the feeling is so significant that words are not adequate.

Using these expressions in conversation

The goal is to reach the point where give your word feels as natural to say as promise, and at a loss for words comes out in the moment that calls for it rather than a few seconds later.

Book a trial lesson with one of italki’s expert English tutors, trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, and practice these expressions in real unscripted conversation until they stop requiring conscious recall.

FAQ

Are all of these expressions used in both American and British English?

Yes, all ten are used in both. Some small differences exist: get a word in edgewise is more common in American English; get a word in edgeways is the British variant. Otherwise, these expressions are widely shared across English-speaking countries.

Can I use “word of mouth” in formal writing?

Yes. Word of mouth appears in business writing, marketing reports, and formal contexts without sounding informal. It is a standard term in business and communication.

What is the difference between “not mince words” and “be blunt”?

Both describe direct, unvarnished communication. Not mincing words often implies that the speaker is delivering a complete thought or assessment without softening. Being blunt focuses more on the social sharpness of the delivery. Not mincing words can describe well-structured honesty; blunt implies less regard for how the message lands.