TRASH-TALK

'Trash-talk' is a form of boast or insult commonly heard in competitive situations (such as sports events). It is often used to intimidate the opposition, but can also be used in a humorous spirit. Trash-talk is often characterized by hyperbolic, figurative language, e.g., ''"Your team can't run! You run like honey on ice!"'' Puns and other wordplay are commonly used. However, citing information about a rival's weaknesses would not be characterized as trash-talk, but could be described as a "discussion topic" (which might foster a trash-talk situation).
Trash-talk, whether typed or spoken, is also commonly used among videogame players. The advent of voice chat technology, such as that found on Xbox Live or in such games as ''Battlefield 2'' and the ''Halo'' series, has made trash-talking much more efficient. In videogame trash-talk, attacks tend to address the player's skill level, but can also take the form of racial, ethnic or sexual slurs.

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Antonym: treasure-talk

See also

Antonym: treasure-talk

On January 17, 2007, American humorist Stephen Colbert displayed what he called 'treasure-talk', the antithesis of trash-talk, because it is intended to encourage rather than disparage targeted persons, and is delivered in the same confrontational style. On ''The Colbert Report'', while discussing an upcoming New Orleans Saints game, the host remarked, "''Hey, Saints! You'' "saint" ''gonna lose! Drew Brees is gonna tame the Chicago Bears like St. Corbinian tamed an actual bear in the the eighth century!"''

See also

★ Wolf ticket

★ The dozens

★ Fighting words

★ Sledging (cricket)

★ Dissing

★ Insult swordfighting