call sb names

call sb names is an idiom used by many writers. When idioms are used in the right place, they open the doors of effective communication and increase your descriptive power. In this way, you will be better understood. The meaning of the expression call sb names is also remarkable in this respect.

Meaning of "call sb names"

Meaning

To call someone names is an idiom that describes when someone is verbally insulting another person. This usually involves using derogatory language or terms, although it can also involve making unexpected and hurtful remarks about a person’s character, behaviour, or unique physical characteristics.

Etymology

The origin of this phrase is not entirely certain, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase may have come from the popular phrase "to name one's name," which meant to criticize or insult someone.

Usage

The phrase “to call someone names” is most commonly used to describe a person speaking in an unkind or hurtful way towards another. It can be used to describe a situation in which someone is using derogatory language, making fun of someone’s physical appearance, or making unexpected and hurtful remarks about a person’s character, behaviour, or unique physical characteristics. It can also be used to describe a situation in which someone is trying to belittle or demean another person.

Example Sentences

• The bully in class was always calling the other students names.
• My brother was always calling me names, so I stopped talking to him.
• The student refused to accept her professor’s criticism and ended up calling him names.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.