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dagger of words
hurtful or cutting speech
Her speech was filled with daggers of words, each one aimed at exposing his weaknesses.
Her speech contained sharp, painful remarks designed to criticize him harshly.
literary
language or speech that is intentionally sharp, hurtful, or designed to wound emotionally
The debate turned vicious when he unleashed daggers of words at his opponent.
The debate became cruel when he used harsh, attacking language against his opponent.
Often used metaphorically to describe verbal attacks that feel physically painful, like being stabbed with a dagger.
Collocations
wield daggers of wordsto use harsh speech intentionallywords like daggersspeech that feels sharp and painful
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoiding Misuse
This phrase should not be used literally. It is a metaphor for emotionally painful speech, not an actual physical attack. Ensure the context involves verbal or written communication.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
Always use 'dagger of words' to describe harsh or hurtful language, never to refer to physical violence or actual weapons.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the literal weapon 'dagger' with 'words,' using the metaphor of a dagger's sharpness and ability to wound to describe speech that causes emotional pain. The imagery likely originates from poetic or literary traditions where words are compared to physical weapons.
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in literary, dramatic, or rhetorical contexts to emphasize the severity of verbal attacks. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in poetry, speeches, or critical analyses of communication.
Word Breakdown
dagger
a short, pointed weapon used as a metaphor for something sharp or painful
nounof words
relating to speech or language
prepositional phraseEnglish Dictionary