Rosie: Hi, I'm Rosie, and this is Li… Li? Hurry up! Ah, here's the karaoke bar.
Li: Ahhh! Rosie, why is the bar on the top floor? So many stairs… Help me please. I'm so unfit. I need to start doing more exercise. I'm going to join the gym tomorrow.
Rosie: Why don't you join the gym today?
Li: I'll join it tomorrow and then I'll go every single day… I will. I really will.
Rosie: Li, you've been saying that for months but you never actually do it!
Li: This time I will, I promise.
Rosie: That's what you always say. You need to put your money where your mouth is.
Li: You want me to put my money where my mouth is? You want me to eat my coins and banknotes? That's disgusting!
Rosie: No, Li, that's not what I meant. To put your money where your mouth is means to stop just talking about something and to take action!
Li: Ah, so you didn't really want me to put all these coins in my mouth?
Rosie: No, please don't. I want you to stop talking about joining the gym - and to join it for real! Here are some more examples:
A: If we played a game of tennis I would easily win! B: Why don't you put your money where your mouth is? I challenge you to a game!
He always talks about how great the charity is – I think he should put his money where his mouth is and donate some money.
Li: So to put your money where your mouth is means to support your words with actions?
Rosie: Yes – I think it's a great expression. So many people just talk and talk about doing things and never actually do them!
Li: So you'd say you’re one of those people who puts their money where their mouth is?
Rosie: Definitely.
Li: That's interesting. So the other day you were saying that you love singing… and here we are in a karaoke bar…
Rosie: Well yes but… I'm really terrible actually. And some of our colleagues are here – how embarrassing.
Li: No excuses! Put your money where your mouth is and sing a karaoke song!
Rosie: Ohhhh… OK.
Li: Oh – maybe sometimes it's best NOT to put your money where your mouth is!