fling mud

fling mud

To disparage someone, especially to the detriment of their reputation. I'm trying to maintain a fair and respectable campaign, and my opponent has no problem flinging mud!
See also: fling, mud
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fling (or sling or throw) mud

make disparaging or scandalous remarks or accusations. informal
The proverb throw dirt (or mud) enough, and some will stick , to which this phrase alludes, is attributed to the Florentine statesman Niccolò Machiavelli ( 1469–1527 ).
See also: fling, mud
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

fling/sling/throw ˈmud (at somebody)

(informal) try to damage somebody’s reputation by telling other people bad things about them: Just before an election, politicians really start to sling mud at each other. ▶ ˈmud-slinging noun: There’s too much mud-slinging by irresponsible journalists.
See also: fling, mud, sling, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • fling/sling/throw mud
  • throw mud
  • throw mud at (one)
  • fling mud at (one)
  • drag (one's) name through the mire
  • mire
  • drag (one's) name through the mud
  • sling mud
  • sling mud at
  • sling mud at (one)
References in classic literature
Many people say that for a male person, bric-a-brac hunting is about as robust a business as making doll-clothes, or decorating Japanese pots with decalcomanie butterflies would be, and these people fling mud at the elegant Englishman, Byng, who wrote a book called THE BRIC-A-BRAC HUNTER, and make fun of him for chasing around after what they choose to call "his despicable trifles"; and for "gushing" over these trifles; and for exhibiting his "deep infantile delight" in what they call his "tuppenny collection of beggarly trivialities"; and for beginning his book with a picture of himself seated, in a "sappy, self-complacent attitude, in the midst of his poor little ridiculous bric-a-brac junk shop."
Tramp Abroad
Wagons fling mud on to the road which makes the surface slipper.
'Only a matter of time before someone is killed'
Instead, the public have been subjected to two years of name-calling, internet abuse and public squabbling as both sides of the argument fling mud at each other rather than grapple with the issues.
Make the dirty tactics history; RecordView
His antlers would stick and he'd fling mud into the air.
A bull called droopy: to take a bigger bull, this diehard do-it-your--selfer goes private
There'll be plenty of opportunities to fling mud in 2009, if necessary, but - who knows?
Letter: Stop complaining
It must devour the road with a serene, mischievous charm, possess subtle sensuality, and fling mud only when arriving at the country estate.
Putting Jaguar in Focus
Nearly three weeks in which the incident was detected by way of a TV slow-motion action replay, Johnson was formally cited by Saracens and then both sides took it in turns to fling mud at each other.
Rugby Union: Speed up the justice system