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# use your words

phrase (idiom, imperative sentence, «use your words»)

«use your words» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (everyday, parenting) stop hitting, screaming, crying or whining and say what you want or feel.
2. (humorous) said to an adult who is not explaining something clearly.

### In the lessons

Parents, teachers and nursery staff say it to young children to teach them to talk about feelings instead of acting them out. Gentle and kind in tone, from US parenting, now common everywhere. Adults also say it jokingly to each other.

### Examples

- (parent) Don't scream — use your words. What's wrong?
- (nursery) Use your words: "Can I have a turn?"
- (teacher) Instead of pushing, use your words to tell him to stop.
- (joke, adult) You're just pointing at the fridge — use your words!
- (chat) my boss just sends "??" — use your words, man
- (story) "Use your words," said the mother bear to the cub.

### Note

Trap: polite wording for «stop that behaviour». Said to an adult it can sound rude or patronising.