do someone dirty
Stab someone's back
To do someone dirty is to treat them unfairly or betray them: He did me dirty when he spread those rumors.
The phrase implies deliberate mistreatment—not just neglect but active harm to someone who trusted you or deserved better.
Common in informal speech, especially when recounting grievances.
- backstabBetray someone's trust
- betrayViolate a trust
- defraudObtain through deceit
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- do somebody wrongTreat someone badly
cheat · cold shoulder · deceive · snake in the grass · connive · treachery · throw under the bus · dupe · heartbreak · mislead · sabotage · low blow · swindle · trick · scam · humiliation · manipulate · conspire