student asking question

Please explain about the expression "Don't be talking trash". Is it a general expression?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

To "talk trash" or "trash talk" means to talk badly about someone or something to insult them or make them feel lower than you. This phrase if often used in competitive events like sports where players may get competitive with each other and "talk trash" or insult one another. However in this case, "talk trash" means simply to talk badly about someone, so "don't be talking trash" means to avoid talking poorly towards someone else. Ex: "You guys are losers and we are going to win." "Don't be talking trash!" Ex: The basketball players were trash-talking each other. Ex: Don't talk trash! We're all in this together.

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