call (someone) names

to use impolite or unpleasant words to describe someone.

I was afraid that if I wore glasses to school, the other kids would call me names.

It's a good thing he didn't hear me earlier - I was calling him all the names under the sun. (= using a lot of impolite words to describe him)

• in the final analysis
• in the first place
• in the flesh
• in the fullness of time
• in the grand scheme of things
• in the great scheme of things
• in the grip of
• in the grip of something
• in the groove
• in the hands of
• in the hands of someone
• in the heat of
• in the heat of something
• in the heat of the moment
• in the hole
• in the hot seat
• in the house
• in the interim
• in their infinite wisdom
• in their wisdom
• in the know
• in the lap of luxury
• in the light of
• in the light of something
• in the line of duty