air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
dirty
UK /ˈdɜːti/ US /ˈdɝti/
adj 5verb 4adv 1noun 1
Collocations
6(adj.)
VERBS
be, feel, look
get
The children got dirty while playing in the mud at the park yesterday.
get sth, make sb/sth
The children got their clothes dirty playing in the mud after the rain.
ADV
extremely, filthy
My son came home from football practice looking extremely dirty.
really, very
My hands got really dirty while I was working in the garden this afternoon.
a bit, rather, slightly
Definitions
adj
1
Unclean; covered with or containing unpleasant substances such as dirt or grime.
Despite a walk in the rain, my shoes weren't too dirty.
Many persons are more comfortable when they are dirty than when they are clean; but that does not recommend dirt as a national policy.
2
That makes one unclean; corrupting, infecting.
Don't put that in your mouth, dear. It's dirty.
3
Morally unclean; obscene or indecent, especially sexually.
At the reception, Uncle Nick got drunk and told dirty jokes to the bridesmaids.
He sets up little cameras 'cause he likes to watch her pee / He likes to watch her pee, he's trembling with glee / He sets up little cameras 'cause he likes to watch her pee / What a dirty little bastard he can be
4
Dishonorable; violating accepted standards or rules.
He might have scored, but it was a dirty trick that won him the penalty.
The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat; Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul.
5
Corrupt, illegal, or improper.
I won't accept your dirty money!
adv
1
In a dirty manner.
to play dirty
verb
1
To make (something) dirty.
2
To stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.
3
To debase by distorting the real nature of (something).
4
To become soiled.
The markers for the slow line signals have been arranged at cab level, but for the inner fast lines they have had to be kept low in the "six-foot", with the result that they tend to be badly dirtied by passing traffic.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
adjective — spreading pollution or contamination
- contaminating
adjective — violating accepted standards or rules
- foul
- unsporting
- unsportsmanlike
adjective — obtained illegally or by improper means
- ill-gotten
adjective — contaminated with infecting organisms
- pestiferous
Antonyms
- clean
- unobjectionable
- uncontaminating
Idioms & Phrases
dirty word
A word that is considered vulgar, not necessarily sexual in nature.
The child was made to sit in the corner as punishment for saying a dirty word.
dirty laundry
Unflattering or embarrassing facts, or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which someone else may use as blackmail.
If you don't tell me why you did it, I'll air all your dirty laundry to your boss.
dirty look
An unpleasant or disdainful look or expression, often directed at someone.
Near-synonym: side-eye
dirty money
Money that is illegally gained, illegally transferred or illegally utilized, especially money gained through forgery, bribery, prostitution, money laundering, or theft.
Corruption is a force multiplier for the West's enemies, and yet the West continues to accept dirty money into its economies by the billion.
Example Bank
601
Despite a walk in the rain, my shoes weren't too dirty.
Wiktionary02
Many persons are more comfortable when they are dirty than when they are clean; but that does not recommend dirt as a national policy.
Wiktionary03
Don't put that in your mouth, dear. It's dirty.
Wiktionary04
to play dirty
Wiktionary05
The markers for the slow line signals have been arranged at cab level, but for the inner fast lines they have had to be kept low in the "six-foot", with the result that they tend to be badly dirtied b
Wiktionary06
I had to get started on the trays. […] I started emptying it from the bottom, putting the dirties in the water. Then I could put the clean ones in the empty spaces to dry while I pulled more dirties f
WiktionaryUsage Notes
Your note
not saved0 chars