Call Names

Also: name-calling

Meaning of Call (someone) Names

To call someone names (or a name) means to insult them; to use offensive descriptions against someone; to verbally abuse someone.

Usage Notes

Sometimes, the term ‘bad name’ is used but most often, the ‘names’ are understood to be bad or insulting. The type of descriptions or labels that this idiom refers to are words like stupid, dumb, idiot, ugly, etc. Many other offensive or teasing terms could be included, including nasty nicknames.

Sentence Examples

“The other kids at school were calling her names because she got braces on her teeth.”

“The teacher told the students to stop calling names.”

“The name-calling and bullying have to stop,” said the teacher.

“You can call me names all you want. I don’t care what you think.”

“I got mad at my sister and called her a name. I called her a psycho.”

“Hey, stinker, don’t go getting too far ahead.” “Why do you do that?” “What?”
“Call him names. Run him down all the time.” — The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

“Why’d you call him those names ?” “Cause he didn’t say he was sorry and I knew it would piss him off.” — Freeway (1997)

Origin

First used in the late 1600s.

A similar expression was used by Shakespeare in Richard III:

“That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.”