Put Up Or Shut Up

Red text on a green shamrock with red background.

This button was dispensed by a gumball machine in the 1950s. The phrase "Put up or shut up" means that one should either take action in order to realize what they've been talking about, or stop talking about it. The phrase has close relation to the saying "Put your money where your mouth is," as in support your boast with evidence. It is also possible that the phrase comes from the poker game. To put up is synonymous with ante up, in which "ante" means "pot." Another theory maintains that the impolite remark was originated from pugilist trash talk, which calls opponents to either put up your fists to fight or back down.