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3. talk down to

talk down to

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talk down to someone

to speak to someone in a patronizing manner; to speak to someone in the simplest way. The manager insulted everyone in the office by talking down to them. Please don't talk down to me. I can understand anything you have to say.

See also: down, talk

talk down to somebody

to speak to someone as if they were too young or stupid to understand something I think of old people just as I think of myself, so I don't talk down to them.

See also: down, talk

talk down to

Also, speak down to. Address someone with insulting condescension, patronize, as in Just because she's editor-in-chief doesn't give her the right to talk down to her staff , or Children hate teachers who speak down to them.

See also: down, talk