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

And while there is goofy comedy involving the often clueless sheep, Mazin didn’t want to talk down to the kids watching.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

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

They also weren’t “self-righteous” and tried “not to talk down to the audience,” he said.

From New York Times • May 11, 2023

In these moments, many of us—including the bulk of my health care worker patients and me—are quick to talk down to ourselves and self-blame.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2023

Most teachers talk down to us, as if we’re a bunch of immature dummies who don’t know anything about anything.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Related Words

• deign
• snub