speaking ill of
Talking someone down
Speaking ill of someone is saying negative things about them, especially in their absence.
The phrase implies criticism that may be unfair, exaggerated, or at least unkind: Don't speak ill of the dead.
It's somewhat formal or old-fashioned; in casual speech, people more often say talk shit about or badmouth.
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- calumnyMalicious false statement
- libelPrinted defamation
- dragging through the mudAttacking someone's character publicly
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
defamation · smear · character assassination · false accusation · casting aspersions · mockery · name-calling · ridicule · disparagement · invective · rebuke · censure · aspersion · traducing · condemnation · tattle · talking trash · trash talking
speaking ill ofpraising
Voicing admiration
commending · lauding · extolling · complimenting · eulogizing
speaking ill ofdefending
Protecting against harm
vouching for · standing up for · building up · talking up · championing
speaking ill ofstanding up for
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