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!