Talk down to
phrasal verb
When you speak to someone as if they are not as intelligent or not as important as you.
The teacher always talks down to us as if we know nothing.
Often appears as...
- don't talk down to
- never talk down to
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Used when someone asserts superiority in knowledge or status over another person.
Her manager would often talk down to her, making her feel undervalued.
Pro Tip 2/3Disrespectful Tone
The phrase often implies a disrespectful or belittling tone.
I disliked how he would talk down to the interns, as if they couldn’t understand simple instructions.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Impact
Being talked down to can make the listener feel inferior or disrespected.
She felt demoralized when her tutor talked down to her for making a mistake.
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