talk down to

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

"He doesn't think he's smarter than his audience, which I think is quite endearing to people who listen to the show. He doesn't talk down to people and he always says 'don't listen to me, I don't know anything'."

From BBC

Al-Alim: Board District 1 “needs a board member that doesn’t talk down to children and families ... a board member that is visionary around issues facing Black education,” someone willing to get their “hands dirty by working with educators and families and communities to make our schools the best schools in the district,” Al-Alim said.

From Los Angeles Times

“But I think, as they’ve learned more and listened to Donald Trump speak, the one thing I hear all the time from people ... is that they really feel like Donald Trump understands them and that’s the biggest connection that people make is, ‘This is a guy in politics who gets us, who understands us, who doesn’t talk like he’s an elitist and talk down to us.’”

From Salon

“But I think, as they’ve learned more and listened to Donald Trump speak, the one thing I hear all the time from people … is that they really feel like Donald Trump understands them and that’s the biggest connection that people make is, ‘This is a guy in politics who gets us, who understands us, who doesn’t talk like he’s an elitist and talk down to us.’”

From Seattle Times

The incumbent: Board District 1 “needs a board member that doesn’t talk down to children and families. ... a board member that is visionary around issues facing Black education,” someone willing to get their “hands dirty by working with educators and families and communities to make our schools the best schools in the district,” Al-Alim said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deign
• snub