bandy about
Spread through gossip
To bandy about is to toss around casually in discussion—passing words, ideas, or names back and forth without much care or precision.
The phrase often implies careless or excessive use: His name has been bandied about as a potential candidate.
They bandy about terms like "fascist" without knowing what they mean.
Unconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
innuendo · scuttlebutt · speculation · chatter · buzz · slander · backbite · talebearing
To distribute widely
- disseminateSpread information widely
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- propagateSpread or breed further
- sharePortion given out
convey · publicize · air · float · toss around · throw around · pass around · repeat
Reasoned case or dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
rhetoric · rebuttal · refutation · thesis · antithesis · crossfire · disputation · polemic
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
scandal · innuendo · scuttlebutt · speculation · chatter · buzz · slander · backbite · talebearing · gossipmonger
spread
To distribute widely
- disseminateSpread information widely
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- propagateSpread or breed further
share · convey · publicize · air · float · toss around · throw around · pass around · repeat · mention
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- controversyProlonged public disagreement
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
deliberation · rhetoric · rebuttal · refutation · thesis · antithesis · crossfire · disputation · polemic · talking point
bandy aboutponder
Think deeply about
contemplate · mull over · think through · deliberate · weigh