poison-pen letter
- noun
- /ˈpɔɪzən pɛn ˈlɛtər/
- NSFW
:
carta anónima maliciosa
- The detective was assigned to investigate a series of poison-pen letters sent to local officials.
Examples
-
He wants me to continue my investigation of the poison-pen letters. "So he said."
Fiction book (1992) -
The poison-pen letters Lydia received have been sent to the FBI lab for analysis.
Fiction book (1992) -
Okay, we're gonna write him a poison-pen letter.
-
Remember my asking you about poison-pen letters?
Fiction book (1992) -
Promise me that if you get any poison-pen letters, you'll bring them to me.
Fiction book (1990) -
On Monday, Sylvie told David about the poison-pen letters, and he got really upset, she said soberly.
Fiction book (1990) -
The poison-pen letter
Fiction book (1990) -
"They appear to resemble the poison-pen letters received by Lydia Gillsworth," he said stonily.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Try me." "Until you get the FBI report on those poison-pen letters, the séance and everyone connected with it represents our best lead—right?"
Fiction book (1992) -
"Archy," he said, "I understand that you will continue investigating the poison-pen letters." "That's correct." "You'll be working with Sergeant Rogoff?
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
20
4.6
Mean or threatening messages sent to upset someone
1
8.6
A letter sent anonymously to threaten or upset someone
Surface Forms
Morphology
poison-pen + letter
The elements 'poison' (harmful) + 'pen' (writing) combined with 'letter' make it fairly easy for a learner to infer that this is a harmful or abusive written message. However, the conventional nuances—especially that such letters are typically anonymous and specifically intended to upset or insult—are idiomatic and not fully deducible from the parts, so the relation is only partly predictable.
Etymology
Poison-pen letter comes from the strong image of a pen that writes poison, as if words could sting or damage like a poison. So it means a secret or anonymous letter sent 'to upset' or hurt someone.