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Glite Dictionary
to name and shame

to name and shame

1 6.3
Publicly say which people or groups did something wrong so others will say bad things about them
  • phrasal verb
  • Literature
translation icon : denunciar públicamente
  • I realize it occurred long before WADA/USADA, but the dopers and the people funding it need to be named and shamed.
  • a name and shame list

There are bad cars and I have named and shamed them.

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Examples

  • It even devised a way of naming and shaming those MPs whose record was not good by publishing black and white lists before elections.

  • Many activists call for groups to name and shame companies that pollute the environment.

  • Be sure to name and shame the rest in the comments.

    Blog text (2)

  • And I'd like to see them named and shamed... who wants people like that around?

    Blog text (6)

  • This year we're giving Britain its first ever general anti abuse rule and we will name and shame the promoters of tax avoidance schemes.

  • Karen Berger being the main one—so I would really, at the very least, like to see this person named and shamed.

    Blog text (26)

  • Earlier this week, I mentioned the New Zealand CYFSWatch blog that's raised an international ruckus because of its "name and shame" tactics, taking transparency and accountability to new levels.

    Blog text (34)

  • The report aims to name and shame those responsible for the financial scandal.

  • Our organization decided to name and shame individuals who exploit workers for cheap labor.

Synonyms

to brand
vsto name and shame
53 4.1

To publicly label someone in a negative way

publicly identifies wrongdoers specifically to expose and criticize them
to denounce
vsto name and shame
  • Formal
19 6.5

Tell authorities about someone, often exposing them to punishment

publicly identifies wrongdoers rather than reporting them for punishment

Antonyms

to protect
∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

to conceal
282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

How Critical

to vilify
43 7.9
to name and shame
  • Literature
1 6.3
to call out
  • Texting
68 4.6
to expose
342 4.1
to point out
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

name and shame infinitive
named and shamed past
named and shamed past participle
naming and shaming present participle
names and shames third person singular

Morphology

name + and + shame

The meaning follows directly from the coordinated verbs 'name' (to identify) + 'shame' (to embarrass); a learner who knows both words can infer that the action is to identify someone and cause them embarrassment, typically by making this public. This simple verb-and-verb composition is common across languages and follows standard English coordination, so the phrase is immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Name and shame comes from the image of putting someone's name in a public place, like a list or a newspaper, and causing them shame by showing they did something wrong. So, it means 'to publicly identify and criticize' people or groups to expose their bad behaviour.