dragged through the mud
Reputation utterly destroyed
To be dragged through the mud is to have your reputation publicly damaged or attacked, often through prolonged criticism or scandal: The candidate was dragged through the mud by her opponents.
The image suggests being pulled through filth so thoroughly that the stain remains.
You can also drag someone or something through the mud: The tabloids dragged his name through the mud for months.
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- defamedHarmed through false statements
- slanderedDamaged by false statements
- vilifiedSpoke evil of
- besmirchedMade morally dirty
thrown under the bus · discredited · dishonored · shamed · denigrated · character assassination · hit piece · tarnished · smeared · disparaged · raked over the coals · degraded · mudslinging · smear campaign · bad press · trial by media · tainted · gossip
dragged through the mudpraised
Expressed approval of
celebrated · defended · honored · vindicated · put on a pedestal