smear
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smear (one's) name
To disparage one publicly, especially to the detriment of one's reputation. I'm trying to maintain a fair and respectable campaign, but my opponent keeps trying to smear my name in all her television ads. They forced him to resign because of the incident. Now they're trying to smear his good name in order to protect themselves from blame.
smear (one's) reputation
To damage of one's reputation, especially by disparaging one publicly. I'm trying to maintain a fair and respectable campaign, but my opponent keeps trying to smear my reputation in all her television ads. They forced him to resign because of the incident. Now they're trying to smear his reputation in order to protect themselves from blame.
See also: reputation, smear
smear (someone or something) with (something)
1. To spread or daub some substance onto someone or something. I came into the kitchen and saw that our toddler had smeared the walls with chocolate. The leader smeared the warriors with paint to intimidate their foes.
2. To damage or attempt to ruin someone's or something's reputation through the perpetuation of claims or rumors about their failures or faults, whether these are true, exaggerated, or falsified. The president's reelection campaign has already begun smearing her opponent. The company argued that its competition had been trying to smear their reputation with false claims about using sweatshop labor in their manufacturing process.
See also: smear
smear (something) on(to) (something)
To spread or daub some substance on(to someone or something). I came into the kitchen and saw our toddler smearing chocolate on the walls. The warrior smeared war paint on his face to intimidate his foes.
See also: smear
smear campaign
A concentrated and prolonged effort to damage or ruin someone's or some group's reputation through the perpetuation of claims about their failures or faults, whether these are true, exaggerated, or falsified. Generally as a means of persuading a large number of people against him, her, or them, especially in a political election. Primarily heard in US. The local sheriff's slim lead heading into the election quickly evaporated after a vicious smear campaign began targeting his former substance abuse. I think we need to start a smear campaign to slow down the competitor's growth in the market, but no one can know that it's coming from us!
smeared
slang Killed in a car accident. I nearly got smeared by a huge truck on the interstate this morning! You need to be more careful crossing the street, or else you'll end up smeared on the pavement.
See also: smear
the whole schmear
Something in its entirety, including every related or expected element or detail. I want a traditional wedding, with the cake, the dress—the whole schmear. Our customers can expect the whole schmear from our travel packages—first-class flights, four-star accommodation, and the best restaurants in the entire city.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
smear campaign (against someone)
a campaign aimed at damaging someone's reputation by making accusations and spreading rumors. The politician's opponents are engaging in a smear campaign against him. Jack started a smear campaign against Tom so that Tom wouldn't get the manager's job.
smear someone or something with something
1. to spread or rub someone or something with some substance. Bitty smeared Bobby with mud and made him very angry. You should smear that burn with lotion. He smeared himself with grease and ruined his shirt.
2. to damage the reputation of someone or something by spreading serious charges or rumors. He smeared his opponent with all sorts of charges. The speaker smeared the entire city with his criticism.
See also: smear
smear something on(to) someone or something
and smear something onto spread or rub something onto someone or something. Judy asked Jeff to smear the sun lotion onto her, and he was very happy to do so. she smeared on the lotion. Jane smeared a little on.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
smear campaign
An attempt to ruin a reputation by slander or vilification, as in This press agent is well known for starting smear campaigns against her clients' major competitors . This phrase was first recorded in 1938 and uses smear in the sense of "an attempt to discredit" or "slander."
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
the whole schmear
everything possible or available; every aspect of something. North American informalSchmear (also spelled schmeer , shmear , or shmeer ) means ‘bribery’ or ‘flattery’, and comes from the Yiddish verb schmirn meaning ‘grease’ or ‘flatter’.
1970 Lawrence Sanders The Anderson Tapes I want a complete list…Any thing and everything…The whole shmear.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
smear
tv. to defeat someone; to outscore someone. They said they would smear us, but we smeared them.
smeared
mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. I feel sort of smeared. Maybe I should have drunk less.
See also: smear
the whole schmear
(...ʃmɪr) n. the entire amount; the entire affair. (Based on Yiddish.) I’ll take a hamburger with everything on it—the whole schmear.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.