Defamation & Unpopularity: English Vocabulary List

to make unfavorable remarks about someone

"They dragged his name through mud."

"The media dragged the politician's name through the mud after the scandal was revealed."

the action of publishing or spreading unpleasant details about someone's private life in order to negatively impact the public's opinion of them

"They found dirt on him."

"The tabloid newspaper was accused of digging up dirt on the celebrity to boost its sales figures."

one's personal matters that if shared with others could make one embarrassed or ashamed

"Don't air dirty laundry."

"It is generally considered inappropriate to discuss your dirty laundry with people you have only just met."

something that receives a lot of attention for a short time, but is soon forgotten

"It was a nine day wonder."

"The new social media trend was a nine day wonder and quickly faded from public consciousness."

to lose favor, respect, or a position of high regard due to a significant mistake, scandal, or failure

"The scientist fell from grace."

"The once-celebrated scientist fell from grace after plagiarizing his research findings and was disgraced."

to physically hit someone, particularly while wearing boxing gloves

"He laid glove on him."

"The boxer was so defensive that his opponent couldn't lay a glove on him throughout the entire match."

to do something that causes others to have less respect for one

"He lost face badly."

"The politician lost face when his promises to the public were revealed to be completely untrue."

the state of losing all the respect others had for one because of one's actions

"It was a loss of face."

"The company experienced a significant loss of face when their product failed spectacularly during its launch event."

used when one says or does something that makes one disgraced or discredited

"His name is mud now."

"After he was caught cheating on the exam, his name is mud with all his classmates."

to be subjected to disapproval, rejection, or criticism from others, often through booing

"The actor got the bird."

"When the performer delivered a terrible speech, the audience immediately started to get the bird and boo loudly."

to make a mistake that brings about a negative consequence

"He blotted his copybook."

"He blotted his copybook by forgetting to submit the crucial report, jeopardizing his promotion chances."

to find the flaws and weaknesses of something, like a plan, action, or idea

"They picked holes in it."

"It is easy to pick holes in any proposal if you are determined to find fault with it."

to make someone appear foolish or ridiculous in front of others

"He made an ass of himself."

"He made an ass of himself at the party by telling inappropriate jokes and spilling drinks everywhere."

to take a particular course of action that endangers one's reputation or position

"She put her neck on block."

"The whistleblower put her neck on the block by exposing the company's illegal activities to the authorities."

to behave in an embarrassing or foolish manner in front of other people, in a way that that makes them mock one

"He made an exhibition of himself."

"The politician made an exhibition of himself by shouting insults at reporters during the press conference."

to cause a loss of respect or reputation for a person or thing

"I cannot lay a glove on him."

"The seasoned politician's reputation was so strong that his opponent could not lay a glove on him during the debate."

used to refer to something is not currently appropriate, popular, or available due to being outside of its usual time or season

"This is out of season."

"Trying to sell winter coats in the middle of summer is completely out of season and unlikely to succeed."

to be subjected to disapproval, rejection, or criticism from others, often through booing

"The band got the bird."

"The experimental play was met with derision, and the actors ultimately got the bird from the disappointed audience."

a negative perception of someone or something

"It gave him a black eye."

"The public's perception of the politician suffered a considerable black eye following the controversial policy announcement."