Mistreatment & Misconduct: English Vocabulary List

to act toward a person or thing without enough care, seriousness, or sense of responsibility

"Do not play fast and loose with the truth."

"The journalist played fast and loose with the facts to make the story more sensational and exciting."

to make problems for something or have a negative effect on it

"The storm played Old Harry with our plans."

"The storm played Old Harry with our garden destroying all the plants and knocking down the fence."

to not value a person or thing as one should

"Don't sell him short."

"It's easy to sell yourself short, but remember all the accomplishments you've already achieved."

to put the blame on the person who brings bad news and assume they are responsible for it

"Don't blame the messenger."

"It is unfair to shoot the messenger when the person who delivers bad news is not responsible for it."

to not care about someone at all or have absolutely no respect for them

"They treat him like dirt."

"The arrogant celebrity treated the hotel staff like dirt and refused to speak to them politely."

to defeat someone without any difficulty

"He will walk all over you."

"The seasoned politician was able to walk all over his inexperienced opponent in the televised debate."

to look at a person in a way that shows one hates them or is very angry with them

"She looked daggers at him."

"When her ex boyfriend walked into the room she looked daggers at him and left immediately."

a comment that seemingly praises someone but is actually intended to insult them

"That was a backhanded compliment."

"He said my presentation was good for a beginner which was actually a backhanded compliment."

to seriously affect or harm someone or something, usually resulting in negative consequences

"The storm did a number."

"The unexpected economic downturn did a real number on the small business's profits."

to betray someone or cause them harm on purpose, especially when they do not expect it

"He did his friend dirty last week."

"She felt that her colleague did her dirty by sharing confidential information with the entire office."

to pass a responsibility, task, or problem to someone else without addressing or resolving it oneself

"He threw it over wall."

"The manager tried to throw the difficult project over the wall to his subordinate."

to stop someone from complaining or protesting by offering them something that is not of very high value or importance

"The boss threw him a bone."

"The manager decided to throw the angry customer a small discount to calm them down."

to tell a person to leave immediately in a forceful manner

"She sent him packing."

"After his rude behavior, the restaurant owner had no choice but to send him packing."

to be dismissed or expelled from a place, job, or position

"He was out on his ear."

"After the argument, she was out on her ear with nowhere else to go."

to refuse to help someone when they need it the most

"You left me in the lurch."

"My friend promised to help me move but left me in the lurch by not showing up at all."

to be left in a difficult or embarrassing situation, often without any support or assistance

"They left me holding the bag."

"My partner left me holding the bag when he quit the business and I had to pay all the debts alone."

to exclude or neglect someone, often intentionally, from a group or activity

"They left her out."

"When the promotion opportunities arose, they deliberately left him out in the cold."

to treat a person poorly by taking advantage of them or ignoring their needs and feelings

"Don't walk all over me."

"She refused to let her colleagues walk all over her during the demanding project."