dragging through the mud
Publicly trashing someone
Dragging through the mud means subjecting someone to public criticism, scandal, or humiliation—treating their reputation as something to be soiled.
The image is of literally pulling someone through filth: The tabloids dragged her name through the mud.
Often used in passive constructions: His reputation was dragged through the mud during the trial.
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- hit pieceDisparaging article targeting someone
disgrace · humiliation · smear campaign · throwing shade · vilification · mire · lug · haul · pull · besmirch · tow · tarnish · sludge · ostracism · raking over the coals · tar and feather · mudslinging · name calling
reputation treatment
dragging through the muddefending
Protecting against harm
putting on a pedestal · praising · vindicating · extolling · exonerating