smear campaign

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 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."

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
GlÁUcio	-	Portuguese
Alvina	[æl'vainə]
Estela	-	Portuguese, Spanish
Prudenzio	proo-DEN-tsyo	Italian
Darcey	['da:si]
Jakki	JAK-ee	English (Rare)