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take sb's name in vain
UK humorousDefinition
› to criticize someone or talk about someone without respect, especially when they are not thereInsults and abuseTreating people or animals badly
(Definition of take sb's name in vain from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus: Insults & abuse
Synonyms and related words:
- abuse noun (RUDE SPEECH)
- abuse verb (SPEAK RUDELY)
- abusive adjective
- affront verb
- be close to the bone idiom
- brickbat noun
- cheek verb
- cut (sb) to the quick idiom
- hatchet job noun
- insult verb
- make sb look small idiom
- mouth off (to/at sb) phrasal verb
- name-calling noun
- revile verb
- shit noun
- slap noun (HIT)
- sledging noun (INSULTING)
- sticks and stones may break my bones, (but words can never hurt me) idiom
- term noun (DESCRIPTION)
- trifle with sb/sth phrasal verb
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