trash-talking

Or trash talk·ing

[trash-taw-king]

noun

1. the act of using disparaging or boastful language, especially to demoralize or intimidate opponents.

   Taunting, trash-talking, gloating, and cheap shots have become all too common in sports.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trash-talking¹

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

Example Sentences

“When I came, I was probably a little more quiet, trying to get to know people. But right now, I’m just being myself, just joking around a lot, trash-talking. So I think one of the biggest things for the team to win is have a great chemistry, and I think we have that.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Milwaukee Brewers fan was reportedly let go from her job after a viral video showed her threatening to “call ICE” on a trash-talking Los Angeles Dodgers fan during the Brewers’ home loss on Tuesday.

Read more on Salon

Their trash-talking, hard checking, and ability to goad rivals into losing their cool on the ice is actually a point of pride.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead we think of male bonding, of office pools and water-cooler chats, of the good-natured trash-talking that comes with fantasy leagues, of long-standing tradition.

Read more on Slate

Fearnley, whose background in the trash-talking US college game helps ensure he does not get fazed, sapped some energy from the home fans in a confident start.

Read more on BBC