trade insults

trade insults (with one)

To alternate saying insulting things (with one). My dad and my boyfriend kept trading insults throughout the dinner, until eventually I snapped at them to cut it out. She traded insults with her opponent for the whole debate.
See also: insult, trade
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

trade insults (with someone)

to take turns with someone in mutual insulting. We traded insults with each other for a while and then settled down to some serious discussions of our differences.
See also: insult, trade
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • trade insults (with one)
  • throw insults
  • throw insults (at one)
  • double entendre
  • it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest
  • throw shade
  • you can dish it out, but you can't take it
  • it's a (type of person) thing
  • it's a... thing
  • play the dozens
References in periodicals archive
Looking at the headline in the letters column "Leave it out Remoaner" I felt a wave of disappointment that, not only has that particular insult been done to death by now, but I always considered that those who trade insults do so because their argument is so weak it needs reinforcement via such puerility.
'Remoaner' insult is getting tiresome now
But they trade insults during the day, and dine and wine together during the night away from the glare of the camera.
Politicians behaving badly, trade insults but dine and wine together
Tracy and Leanne trade insults after Tracy points the finger at Simon.
SOAP watch
Trump may not achieve the total denuclearisation of North Korea, but better to try than trade insults and threaten holocaust.
Donny & Jezza are non-identical twins
But instead of flogging bargains, they trade insults. Who will Lord Sugar send home in the black cab of shame?
WEDNESDAY CHOICE NOVEMBER 18
Peter and Tracy trade insults as they |try to deal with Deirdre's death
WE LOVE SOAPS
"UAE law will ensure the prosecution of anyone that uses the internet and smart phones to trade insults."
Family Facebook feud ends up in Dubai Mall dust-up
The pop star and her daughter Lourdes, trade insults in a dressing room as an aide styles her hair in a four-minute spoof film to announce the competition.
Madonna, daughter feature in spoof film to launch model hunt
This is the kind of band who trade insults onstage and decorate their mic stands with bras which have been thrown at them.
ALL TIME LOW Barrowland, Glasgow, March 9
After a campaign that saw the main protagonists trade insults, all the main candidates spent the final hours of campaigning with appearances on Ukrainian political talk shows.
Exit polls predict Ukraine runoff
Liam said today that the pair now simply trade insults on the internet rather than face-to-face.
Oasis pair don't speak but trade blog insults
HOWZAT: Smethwick's Arif Mahmood and Penn wicket keeper Lee Nightingale trade insults before the batsman is restrained as he raises his bat in fury
That's just not cricket
ASunday paper caught my eye with the headline 'Salmond and McConnell Trade Insults'.
Looks as if voters will be losers again
Whenever it is held, however, all the parties should remember that they have a responsibility to present policies to the electorate ( not trade insults and smears.
Much at stake in this election
# SIR - How charming to see Labour and Plaid using this letters page to trade insults about overspending on PFI bypasses (as if they don't expect expense when they put private profit before the public interest).
letters to the editor: PFI's green devastation