talk down to

Idioms  

1. Also, speak down to. Address someone with insulting condescension, patronize, as in Just because she's editor-in-chief doesn't give her the right to talk down to her staff, or Children hate teachers who speak down to them.

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Example Sentences

What I am saying is that, if you have never found yourself in a situation where your life does a complete 180, it’s wrong to talk down to anyone.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025

But true friends don’t talk down to you and tell you that you’re lazy after you spent years living off of canned beans trying to make payroll—they rejoice in your success.

From Slate • Dec. 15, 2023

“Always be respectful to the cop. Don’t talk down to him. Do what he says,” said Robinson, who spent 13 years as a Detroit police officer.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2023

As in his other books, Mr. Murphy did not talk down to his young readers or sugarcoat.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2022

“You may call me Tandy. You may call me Ms. Angel. But please don’t ever talk down to me again.”

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Related Words

• deign
• snub