Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Meaning: This is a polite thing to do to prevent the spread of germs. When you cough or sneeze, germs can come out of your mouth and nose and spread to other people.

Choice of Words: The word cover means to put something over something else to protect it or hide it. Mouth is the part of the face that you use to speak and eat. Cough and sneeze are both words for the sudden release of air from your mouth and nose. So, when you cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, you are preventing the spread of germs.

Alternative Expressions

Put your hand over your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Meaning: This means the same thing as the first sentence. It tells you to cover your mouth with your hand when you cough or sneeze.

Choice of Words: Put means to place something somewhere. Hand is the part of your body that you use to hold things. Over means to be on top of something. Mouth is the part of your face where you speak and eat. When is a word that tells you that something happens at the same time as something else. Cough is a sound that you make when you have a sore throat or a cold. Sneeze is a sound that you make when you have a cold or when you are allergic to something.

Don't spread germs when you cough or sneeze.

Meaning: This means that you should try not to spread germs to other people when you cough or sneeze. You can do this by covering your mouth with your hand or a tissue.

Choice of Words: Don't means to not do something. Spread means to move something from one place to another. Germs are tiny living things that can make you sick. When is a word that tells you that something happens at the same time as something else. Cough is a sound that you make when you have a sore throat or a cold. Sneeze is a sound that you make when you have a cold or when you are allergic to something.

Related Expressions