whispering campaign

American  

noun

1. the organized spreading of insinuations or rumors to destroy the reputation of a person, organization, etc.

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whispering campaign British  

noun

1. the organized diffusion by word of mouth of defamatory rumours designed to discredit a person, group, etc

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whispering campaign Idioms  

1. A deliberate spreading of derogatory rumors about a candidate, as in That whispering campaign destroyed his chances for election. [c. 1920]

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Etymology

Origin of whispering campaign

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Though he was careful not to appear in public in his wheelchair, there was a whispering campaign that Roosevelt was not physically fit for the presidency.

From Washington Post

Mr Brentnall said in the years that followed his conviction, there was a "whispering campaign" in the community with people calling him a "thief" and a "fraudster".

From BBC

“They’re like an unwritten whispering campaign that has taken on the force of law,” he said.

From Washington Post

He said he did not believe Ms. Patel’s denials that she had orchestrated a whispering campaign against him with the news media.

From New York Times

Over the past few months, so-called "friends" of the prince have mounted a whispering campaign about the photo trying to undercut its authenticity.

From BBC