PhrasesHub

Put the mockers on

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • jinx or bring bad luck
        Refer to someone or something that is believed to bring bad luck or jinx a situation

    Examples of Put the mockers on

    • Sarah is so nervous about her presentation that she's putting the mockers on herself. She keeps making funny faces and tripping over her words, as if she's being teased by an invisible audience.

      This idiom means to act in a way that suggests one is being taunted or ridiculed, usually by an imagined audience. In Sarah's case, her nerves are causing her to behave as if she's being mocked by an invisible audience, making her appearance and behavior comically disastrous. The use of the idiom illustrates the impact that self-doubt and anxiety can have on one's performance and confidence levels.

    • The coach's harsh criticism and constant sarcastic remarks are putting the mockers on the team. They're beginning to crack under the pressure, losing focus and making careless mistakes.

      Here, "putting the mockers on" is used to describe the negative effects of persistent ridicule on a team's morale and performance. The coach's constant negative feedback is causing the team to lose confidence in themselves, leading to mental and physical mistakes that negatively impact their game.

    • The teacher's witty remarks and sarcastic comments during the lesson are putting the mockers on the students, making it difficult for them to concentrate and learn.

      In this context, "putting the mockers on" is used to illustrate the detrimental effects of sarcastic and mocking comments on students' learning experience. The teacher's witty remarks are creating a distracting and discouraging learning environment, making it difficult for students to focus and absorb the material being presented.

    • The team's poor performance in the championship tournament is putting the mockers on the entire league, raising questions about the validity of their teams and players.

      Here, "putting the mockers on" is used to describe the negative impact that a team's poor performance can have on the league's reputation and credibility. The team's failure to perform up to par is causing doubt and criticism from other teams and the league as a whole, leading to questions about the league's quality of play and participant pool.

    • The coach's exaggerated celebration after every small win in the match put the mockers on the opposing team.

      In this example, the verbose explanation would be "The coach's over-the-top responses to each small victory during the game made the opposing team look foolish and ridiculous, as if they were putting on a mocking performance towards them."

    • The lead singer's grand entrances and theatrics during the concert put the mockers on the crowd who couldn't help but laugh at his pompousness.

      Here, the explanation would be "The exaggerated and dramatic performances of the lead singer during the concert resulted in the audience chuckling at his extravagance, as if they were ridiculing or mocking him."

    • The arrogant co-worker's constant one-upmanship and boastful behaviour put the mockers on his colleagues who grew tired of his self-importance.

      In this example, the explanation would be "The obnoxious and boastful demeanor of the colleague led to his peers mocking him through their eyes and actions, as if they were ridiculing his airs."

    • The overly dramatic actor's histrionic performance put the mockers on the director and crew who had to suffer through it during the take.

      Here, the explanation would be "The exaggerated and melodramatic performance of the actor during the take caused the director and crew to laugh at him behind his back, as if they were mocking his ridiculous antics."


    Conclusion

    The idiom "put the mockers on" can be used to discourage someone from pursuing a certain activity or to refer to someone or something that is believed to bring bad luck.

    Origin of "Put the mockers on"

    The origin of the idiom "put the mockers on" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in British slang in the 19th century. The word "mockers" is thought to come from the Romani language, where it means "curses" or "hexes." The idiom may have been derived from the idea of casting a spell or bringing bad luck upon someone or something.

    One theory suggests that the idiom originated from the world of cricket, where players would use the term "put the mockers on" to refer to a superstition or jinx that could affect the outcome of the game. Over time, the idiom has become more widely used in everyday language to refer to discouraging or jinxing someone or something.

    Overall, the exact origins of the idiom "put the mockers on" remain uncertain, but it is believed to have originated from British slang and may have been influenced by superstitions and beliefs about bringing bad luck.