Cock mout kill cock

proverb COCK MOUT kill COCK kɔk maʊt kɪl kɔk

Also spelled cock mouth kill cock

“the rooster's own mouth kills the rooster”

'Cock mout kill cock' — the rooster's own mouth kills the rooster. Talking too much — boasting, running your mouth, or giving yourself away — brings about your own downfall, the proverb warns. Just as the crowing cock reveals its whereabouts to the one who would catch it, careless or boastful speech betrays a person and lands them in trouble. It is a shrewd caution to guard your tongue, since more people are undone by what they say than by anything done to them.

  • Him brag bout di robbery an police hear; cock mout kill cock.

    He bragged about the robbery and the police heard; loose talk brings your downfall.

  • Learn fi hush — cock mout kill cock.

    Learn to keep quiet — your own mouth can be your ruin.

  • She talk sheself inna trouble; cock mout kill cock.

    She talked herself into trouble; careless speech betrays you.

A barnyard image: the rooster's crowing announces where it is and marks it out — its own mouth is its undoing. 'Cock' here is the rooster. A figure for how careless talk brings a person down.

A caution against boasting or talking too much. 'Cock' is used in its plain sense of a male fowl.