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Glite Dictionary
to throw dirt

to throw dirt

1 7.2
Say bad things about someone to harm their reputation
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : difamar
  • Don't let 'em throw dirt on the box, and you're laying there going, 'Oh, God.

OK, Throw dirt on me, OK, Because it sucks.

Examples

  • In that moment, they're throwing dirt on the situation.

  • We can't wait to see the NFL try and throw dirt on this story if it's true.

    Blog text (9)

  • OK, Throw dirt on me, OK, Because it sucks.

    The Basement Yard

  • "People may think they are in authority to throw dirt," he pointed out, "but no doubt every man has a right to scrape it off."

    Academic text (2010)

  • And that is nothing but an attempt to throw dirt on the person without challenging the accuracy of the statement, the classic definition of a smear.

    Blog text (11)

  • Folks that throw dirt on you aren't always trying to hurt you, and folks who pull you out of a jam aren't always trying to help you.

    Blog text (27)

  • The journalist tried to throw dirt on the politician by spreading false rumors about his past.

  • It's unfair to throw dirt on someone's character without any evidence to support your claims.

  • After the scandal broke, many online users began to throw dirt at the celebrity, questioning their integrity.

Synonyms

to trash
vsto throw dirt
  • Offensive
70 5.8

To say very bad things about someone or something

focuses on harming reputation with harsh remarks rather than proven wrongdoing
to denigrate
vsto throw dirt
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

aims to harm reputation by accusations rather than only lowering status
to slander
vsto throw dirt
  • Specialized
31 6.3

To say false things that damage someone's reputation

covers attempts in any form not only spoken accusations
to defame
vsto throw dirt
  • Formal
18 6.8

To say false things about someone that harm their good name

often harms reputation by negative remarks or accusations without proof
to badmouth
vsto throw dirt
  • Informal
15 7.6

To speak badly about someone behind their backs

is often used to attempt reputation harm rather than mere criticism
to dig up dirt
vsto throw dirt
  • Informal
9 6.5

Look for and tell secret or bad things about someone to harm them

focuses on searching for scandals while key covers broad negative accusations
to drag through the mud
vsto throw dirt
  • Informal
7 7.9

To speak badly about someone in public to hurt their reputation

often happens without public exposure not only public attacks
to talk trash
vsto throw dirt
  • Offensive
5 7.5

Say insulting, bragging words to make someone angry or nervous

is less about lasting reputational harm and more about immediate insult
to take potshots at
vsto throw dirt
  • Offensive
4 8.1

To make quick, unfair critical remarks about someone or their ideas

often implies casual small scale attacks rather than planned reputation damage
to talking trash
vsto throw dirt
  • Offensive
3 8.1

Say rude or insulting things to make someone feel bad

is used for temporary taunts not primarily aiming to ruin reputation
to dish the dirt
vsto throw dirt
  • Informal
1 8.5

To tell private or bad things about someone to other people

focuses on sharing scandals rather than making false accusations
to calumniate
vsto throw dirt
  • Formal
1 9.9

To say false things about someone to harm their reputation

often relies on unproven accusations rather than verified facts
to smirch
vsto throw dirt
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To damage someone's name by saying false things about them

often includes mere negative allegations rather than proven guilt
to put the bad mouth on
vsto throw dirt
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is broader covering attacks meant to damage reputation rather than casual insult
to throw brickbats
vsto throw dirt
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is about harming reputation by accusations often without evidence

Antonyms

to defend
∞ 1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

to compliment
95 1.6

To say something nice about someone or their work

How Damaging

to defame
  • Formal
18 6.8
to smear
55 6.1
to throw dirt
  • Informal
1 7.2
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

throw dirt infinitive
throwing dirt present participle
throws dirt third person singular
threw dirt past
thrown dirt past participle

Morphology

throw + dirt

The idiomatic sense is a metaphorical extension of the literal image of throwing 'dirt' (bad material) at someone, so knowing 'throw' and 'dirt' gives a clear clue that negative material is being directed at a person. However, the specific pragmatic meaning of damaging someone's reputation by spreading rumours or accusations is not strictly compositional and requires mapping 'dirt' onto reputational harm, so a B1 learner might infer the general negative action but not the precise idiomatic nuance without prior exposure.

Etymology

Throw dirt comes from the picture behind the words throw and dirt: someone would toss soil or mud onto a person to make them look dirty or bad. So, to throw dirt now means to say or spread bad things to 'harm someone's reputation'.