smack talk

American  

[smak tawk] / ˈsmæk ˌtɔk /

noun

1. insulting, taunting, or boastful comments, often as a form of banter, as between competitors; trash talk.

   At boxing practice there's a lot of gibing and smack talk between the boxers as they go at each other.

   He won the election but soon found that his campaign-trail smack talk didn't translate well to governing.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to make insulting, taunting, or boastful comments to or about (someone), often as a form of banter; trash-talk.

   Reps from the two companies are always smack talking each other on whose cybertechnology is more efficient.

   She smack-talked him behind his back but treated him like a prince when we were all together.

Etymology

Origin of smack talk

First recorded in 1985–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

smack talk

That felt pretty sweet for Arthur Tuverson, who gave a little smack talk to the San Clemente student section after the game, taunting them about the defense’s shutout.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

“It’s time to end the smack talk, end the conjecture and settle this — man to boy.”

From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2025

It could have the cadence of smack talk, or a conspiratorial whisper.

From New York Times ● Dec. 8, 2021

The smack talk came mainly from Brown and Johnson, the elder contingent of the young staffers.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 20, 2021

This didn’t sound like very fierce smack talk to Aru, but considering that it was coming from Mini, it was about as violent as it would get.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

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