mauvais langue1
/ˌməʊveɪ ˈlɒ̃ɡ/Caribbean (chiefly Trinidad and Tobago )
noun
Malicious gossip or rumours; critical or slanderous talk.
adjective
Given to or characterized by malicious gossip; backbiting; slanderous.
Origin
1940s. From French Creole mauvais langue from French mauvais bad + langue; evidently a French Creole calque from West African languages parallel to the Anglophone Creole calque bad-talk.
mauvais langue2
/məʊˈveɪ ˈlɒ̃ɡ/(also mauvaise langue, mauvalangue) Caribbean (chiefly Trinidad and Tobago )
verb
[with object] To disparage, criticize, or abuse (a person, especially someone who is not present).
Origin
1950s. From mauvais langue. Compare bad-talk.
- scrap dealer
- scrape
- scrape acquaintance with
- scraper
- scraperboard
- scrape the barrel (or the bottom of the barrel)
- scrapheap
- scrapie
- scraping
- scrap merchant
- scrap metal
- scrappage
- scrap paper
- scrapper
- scrappily
- scrappiness
- scrapple
- scrappy
- scrapyard
- scratch
- scratch and sniff
- scratch a —— and find a ——
- scratchboard
- scratch card
- scratch coat