pile on
Join the criticism
To pile on is to add more of something, often excessively or when someone is already overwhelmed.
Critics pile on when they join others in attacking a target.
Coaches pile on points against a weak opponent.
Bills pile on during hard times.
The phrase suggests accumulation that becomes burdensome or unfair—everyone joining in once someone's already down.
Combine against a target
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- harassPersistently torment someone
- houndHunting dog breed
bully · dogpile · gang tackle · swarm · target · scapegoat · bandwagon · join in
Gear or takedown
- ruckRugby's ground-level contest
- maulAttack with brutal force
- scrumContested pack restart
- dogpileMany atop one person
bodies · players · foul · penalty · collapse · clear out · breakdown
gang up
Combine against a target
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
- criticizeJudge unfavorably, vocally
- harassPersistently torment someone
hound · bully · dogpile · gang tackle · swarm · target · scapegoat · bandwagon · join in · attack
tackle
Gear or takedown
dogpile · bodies · players · foul · penalty · collapse · clear out · breakdown
heap
Jumbled collection of items
collect · hoard · mass · buildup · stockpile · layer · add · mount · increase · compound
load
Carried weight or burden
encumber · saddle · overwhelm · swamp · inundate · add to · compound · pressure · stress · weigh down
- heap onload up, stack up, slather
- adding insult to injuryrub it in, twist the knife, make it worse, aggravate, worsen
- herd behaviorherd mentality, bandwagon effect, conformism, peer pressure, following the crowd
- mob attackswarm, mob, gang up, dogpile, overwhelm
- Hardcore Punkhardcore punk, Black Flag, hardcore, hardcore shows, mosh pit
- mosh pitsmoshing, mosh pit, mosher, circle pit, slam dancing