read someone to filth
To thoroughly insult, to comprehensively call attention to the flaws or shortcomings of (someone).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The critic read the actor to filth for his terrible performance.”
“After the manager made a series of unprofessional mistakes, his supervisor read him to filth in front of the entire team.”
“During the heated debate, the opponent read the senator to filth, systematically exposing every contradiction and failure in his long political career.”
From the black gay slang term read (“call attention to someone's flaws”).
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 04
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 05
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 06
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
- 07
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
- 08
cry someone a river
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
Last updated August 10, 2026