Behavior & Approach - Offensive Behavior

Explore English idioms that relate to offensive behavior, including "close to the bone" and "eat dirt".

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to [eat] dirt [phrase]

to receive insults or bad treatment, especially without ever complaining

Ex: I ate dirt when I stumbled and fell in front of everyone during the dance performance .

to consider a person or thing unimportant and undeserving of respect

Ex: Some employees felt that the manager looked down his nose at their suggestions and ideas , acting as if their input did n't matter .

near the knuckle [phrase]

(of jokes or remarks) close to the limits of what people can tolerate or find acceptable, particularly if it is offensive or sexually suggestive

Ex: His comments about his co-workers were getting near the knuckle , making everyone in the office uncomfortable .

to [air] {one's} lungs [phrase]

to speak in a manner that is rude or sexually offensive

Ex: He just went to the boss 's office , aired his lungs and now he 's complaining about losing his job !

to [give] {sb} (some|any) lip [phrase]

to talk to a person in a way that is rude and shows no respect for them

Ex:

close to home [phrase]

resonating deeply with someone's personal experiences, feelings, or beliefs

Ex: The story of the refugee 's journey hit close to home for me because I have family members who have immigrated to this country .

to [hang] a BA [phrase]

to express contempt or disrespect to a person by showing one's naked backside to them

Ex: He went to the window and hung a BA — just for the hell of it .

to [give|flip] {sb} the finger [phrase]

to raise one's middle finger and point it toward a person to show one is angry with them, hates, or disrespects them

Ex:

to [have] (a|some) nerve [phrase]

to have an attitude that is inappropriate, rude, or too bold

Ex: He certainly has some nerve to critique her work when his own is far from perfect .

to [take] {one's} name in vain [phrase]

to talk about someone without giving them any respect

Ex: He did n't appreciate it when his coworkers took his name in vain by making jokes about him behind his back .

close to the bone [phrase]

(of a joke, story, remark, etc.) dealing with sensitive or controversial topics that can be uncomfortable or unsettling to hear

Ex: The comedian 's jokes were a little too close to the bone for some people , and they felt offended .

no-go area [noun]

a very private or offensive subject that should not be discussed

Ex: In our friendship , discussing our past relationships has always been a no-go area .

to [give] {sb} the bird [phrase]

to laugh or shout insults at someone

Ex:

Behavior & Approach
Foresight & Prudence	Overreaction	Tact	Being Tactful
Improvisation & Compromise	Behaving Politely	Lack of Care or Consideration	Without Care or Thought
Reacting or Demanding	Conversational Responses	Showing Surprise	Paying or Getting Attention
Not Paying Attention	Offensive Behavior	Reaction & Response	Jealousy & Competition
Harsh & Strict Treatment