give the dirts

English

Verb

give the dirts (third-person singular simple present gives the dirts, present participle giving the dirts, simple past gave the dirts, past participle given the dirts)

1. To verbally abuse.
   • 2009, Patrick Deer, Culture in Camouflage: War, Empire, and Modern British Literature, →ISBN:

     You write about the 'fray,' From some place far away, You're giving us what Tommy calls the 'dirts.' With your 'majesty of war', and our 'eagerness for more', Remember that this sort of rubbish hurts.

   • 2013, Arjun Shekhar, End of Story, →ISBN:

     I expect when he sees those trembling hands of mine, he'll give me a dose of the dirts through his rectangular glasses and reprimand me: “Get a hold on yourself, Mr Ali. This is a court not a Parkinson's clinic.'

   • 2018, Saima Malik, Was it meant to be?:

     We laughed at her attempted joke and she gave us the dirts!