you shouldn't speak ill of the dead

you shouldn't speak ill of the dead

It is immoral or objectionable to say malicious or defamatory things about someone who has passed away. A: "Ah, Tom was just a selfish old bigot." B: "Mary! You shouldn't speak ill of the dead!" You say we shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but we shouldn't forget the misdeeds of those who were once in power, either, lest history repeats itself.
See also: dead, ill, of, speak
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • don't speak ill of the dead
  • never speak ill of the dead
  • speak ill of
  • speak ill of (someone or something)
  • speak/think ill of somebody
  • sup with the devil
  • dine with the devil
  • poison pen
  • piece of work
  • piece of work, a
References in periodicals archive
"They say you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but they can't sue," he observes with a little glee.
A True Blue through and through; William Leece talks to Neville Goldrein, the lawyer who led the Tories on Merseyside
Evidently Crusher's letter was rude about Arena Leisure and now Arena are going to take all of us to the Old Bailey unless we say sorry, even though Arena had said rude things about the Future Funding Plan, which is dead, and you shouldn't speak ill of the dead.
Extract from the diary of a BHB director . .
You shouldn't speak ill of the dead, they say, but I blame that grizzled old vicar for a lot of this nonsense, sitting in his little cottage in Llyn, quivering with a mindless hatred for all things English.
Fat-headed disciples with no vision or hope
We all know you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, Bob.
Ulster man OF The People: WATCH OUT, ST BOB - YOUR HALO'S SLIPPING
You shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but we're making an exception in the case of Danny.
GIVE HERO DAD HIS JOB BACK; call to callous Railtrack station boss.