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REFERENCE

talk trash

idiom
Meaning

To untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.


Origin

disputed origin

Phrasal verb from talk (“to speak of, to discuss”) + trash (“a worthless assertion for being untrue”).

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't talk trash about your teammates.

CONTEXTUAL

The players started to talk trash during the game, which made the referee very angry.

COMPLEX

He often talks trash about his rivals to undermine their confidence before a major competition.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all talk and no cider

    All talk and no results.

  2. 02

    big talk

    Statements which are boastful or exaggerated.

  3. 03

    coffee talk

    Informal conversation among friends or acquaintances, of the kind that occurs in a casual gathering where people sit together and drink coffee.

  4. 04

    if these walls could talk

    Used to denote a location with an interesting or controversial history.

  5. 05

    oil trash

    An uncultured, rowdy roughneck employed in the petroleum industry, especially a "white trash" person if used negatively.

  6. 06

    pillow talk

    Conversation shared by bedmates, particularly intimate conversation after sexual intercourse.

  7. 07

    rabbit

    [Cockney slang]talk

  8. 08

    sex talk

    Flirtatious conversation, used as foreplay or for seduction.

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