backbiting

UK
/ˈbæk.baɪ.tɪŋ/
US
/ˈbæk.baɪ.tɪŋ/
backbitingnoun
backbitings
pl
Translations
médisancePropos malveillants tenus en l’absence de la personne visée.
The office was rife with backbiting, as employees often gossiped about each other behind their backs.
Le bureau était empli de médisance, car les employés colportaient souvent des ragots les uns sur les autres dans leur dos.
Definitions
The act of speaking unfavorably or maliciously about someone who is not present.
The office was rife with backbiting, as employees often gossiped about each other behind their backs.
backbitinggerund / present participle
UK
/ˈbækˌbaɪ.tɪŋ/
US
/ˈbækˌbaɪ.tɪŋ/
Used attributively to describe a person or comments that engage in malicious gossip.
Translations
médisantSe dit d’une personne ou d’un comportement qui parle mal des autres en leur absence.
She grew tired of her backbiting colleagues.
Elle se lassa de ses collègues médisants.
Definitions
Inclined to speak unfavorably or maliciously about others who are not present.
She grew tired of her backbiting colleagues.
backbiteverb

backbiting

ing-form

backbit
Past Simple
backbitten
Past Participle
backbiting
ing-form
UK
/ˈbæk.baɪt/
US
/ˈbæk.baɪt/
Translations
médireSe construit généralement avec « de » ; registre courant.
It is hurtful to backbite a coworker after the meeting.
Il est blessant de médire d’un collègue après la réunion.
Additional translations
mordreSens vieilli ou archaïque, avec l’idée de mordre ou d’attaquer par derrière.
Definitions
To speak unfavorably or slanderously about someone who is not present.
She was upset to learn that her colleagues would often backbite her when she wasn't around.
(archaic) To bite or attack from behind.
The startled mule bucked when the dog tried to backbite it.
Synonyms
speak behind someone's back
speak ill of