What is the origin of the idiom "put a sock in it" and when to use it?

The idiom "put a sock in it" originates from the practice of placing a sock or a piece of cloth inside a musical instrument, such as a trumpet or a trombone, to muffle or mute the sound. This action reduces the instrument's volume, making it less noisy. The phrase has its roots in the early 20th century, when it was used by musicians to indicate that someone should insert a sock or cloth into their instrument to make it quieter during a performance. This expression is now used to refer to any situation where someone needs to be quieter or stop making noise.