Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A critical, disparaging, or humiliating remark.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of put-down.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • On page 23, when Charles Bovary is seeking Emma Rouault's hand, Emma's father thinks of him as "a bit of a loser," where Russell has "rather a wisp of a man" — which, as well as being less of a jazzy putdown from the late twentieth century, happens to be more accurate: a gringalet, according to my French-English dictionary, is a "little undersized fellow."

    No Way, Madame Bovary 2004

  • On page 23, when Charles Bovary is seeking Emma Rouault's hand, Emma's father thinks of him as "a bit of a loser," where Russell has "rather a wisp of a man" — which, as well as being less of a jazzy putdown from the late twentieth century, happens to be more accurate: a gringalet, according to my French-English dictionary, is a "little undersized fellow."

    No Way, Madame Bovary 2004

  • The Hebrew word behama, meaning water oxen, is a slang putdown meaning dolt.

    'Compassion' On Campus 2008

  • The putdown is a familiar one for the Kennedy family.

    The American Spectator Daniel J. Flynn 2010

  • The putdown is a familiar one for the Kennedy family.

    The American Spectator Daniel J. Flynn 2010

  • The putdown is a familiar one for the Kennedy family.

    The American Spectator 2010

  • The putdown is a familiar one for the Kennedy family.

    The American Spectator 2010

  • The problem is that McCain is known as a maverick and has come out strongly against Bush so the third Bush term putdown has not stuck.

    Ries' Pieces 2008

  • The effect on society and on this democracy of this angry, polarizing, bitter kind of putdown conversation is dangerous.

    CNN Transcript May 24, 2009 2009

  • The effect on society and on this democracy of this angry, polarizing, bitter kind of putdown conversation is dangerous.

    CNN Transcript May 24, 2009 2009

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