trash talk

American  

[trash tawk] / ˈtræʃ ˌtɔk /

noun

1. disparaging or boastful language.

   Both sides exchanged trash talk throughout the game.

   Trash talk is banned on this forum.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to use disparaging or boastful language to or about (someone).

   The site was used anonymously by high school bullies to publicly trash-talk, harass, and embarrass their targets.

   Maybe you should stop trash talking and check your facts!

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• trash-talker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of trash talk

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

They are surprisingly self-aware and, with prompting, willing to trash talk the competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Then I caught up with them and we shared a few words—no trash talk, just checking in with each other.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

“I said, ‘Yeah, OK’ and I just went right on walking,” apparently dismissing what he’d just heard as trash talk.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2025

You don't need Ryan Wilson's 2018 tunnel trash talk.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025

Jazz was having her daily coffee in the form of trash talk shows.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds