poison pen letter

7.6

An unsigned angry letter written to hurt or insult someone

noun
/ˈpɔɪzən pɛn ˈlɛtər/

: carta anónima malintencionada

I can't believe someone sent a poison pen letter to Maria!

Examples

She received a poison pen letter at work yesterday.
The celebrity was deeply upset after receiving a poison pen letter criticizing her family.
He was shocked to find a poison pen letter tucked into his mailbox.
Sending a poison pen letter is a cowardly way to express anger.
The actress received a poison pen letter that maliciously criticized her performance.
After the scandal, he found himself the target of a poison pen letter filled with lies.
She was shocked to discover a poison pen letter had been sent to her anonymously, attacking her character.

Synonyms

hate mail

vspoison pen letter

Offensive

20 4.6

Mean or threatening messages sent to upset someone

aims to harm or defame a person rather than express hatred

crank letter

vspoison pen letter

Offensive

1 8.6

A letter sent anonymously to threaten or upset someone

focuses on harming reputation and insulting rather than direct threats

How Harmful

smear campaign

16 5.5

poison pen letter

7.6

Surface Forms

poison pen letter singular

poison pen letters plural

Morphology

poison + pen + letter

The harmful intent of the expression is partially derivable because 'poison' used figuratively suggests something damaging and 'pen/letter' clearly indicate a written message, so a learner can infer a negative written communication. However, the conventionalized collocation 'poison pen' (especially the nuance of anonymous/defaming intent) is metaphorical and entrenched; the full specific meaning is not fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase poison pen letter comes from a clear image: imagine a note whose words are like poison and the pen is the tool that spreads them. That's why it now means an anonymous letter written 'to harm' or 'insult' someone.