pure cancer
- noun
- Slang
:
puro veneno
- Spreading misinformation is pure cancer to public trust.
Examples
-
Unchecked gossip can be pure cancer for any organization.
-
The constant negativity in the forum is pure cancer and drives people away.
-
This constant negativity is pure cancer to our team spirit.
-
He believes that gossip is pure cancer for relationships.
-
Spreading misinformation is pure cancer in any community, damaging relationships and trust.
-
His toxic behavior is pure cancer for our team's morale and productivity.
-
Allowing unchecked negativity to fester is pure cancer for a healthy workplace culture.
Synonyms
94
3.5
Something that slowly harms people or a group, for example hate
Great harm that can cause death or serious damage
Antonyms
∞
1.0
The condition of a person's body and mind, especially being free from illness or injury
How Harmful
- Slang
- US
1
5.8
243
4.2
161
2.6
80
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines the intensifier 'pure' with 'cancer' used metaphorically, so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer a sense of something extremely harmful or destructive. However, calling an abstract social influence 'cancer' is a culturally charged metaphorical extension (disease-as-harm) that is not fully literal or predictable, so a B1 learner may not reliably derive the precise figurative nuance without exposure.
Etymology
The phrase pure cancer uses a strong image from the disease cancer: cancer grows and spreads into healthy parts of the body, causing damage. Saying something is pure cancer, with pure meaning 'completely', means it is extremely harmful and will spread damage in the same way.