poison pen
The term "poison pen" is often used to describe both the harmful written communication and the person behind it.
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Definition
C1General
(idiomatic, negative)A letter or note written with malice, intended to harm or upset the recipient.
Example
- She received a poison pen letter filled with baseless accusations.
C1General
(idiomatic, negative)A person who writes harmful or defamatory letters, often anonymously.
Example
- The columnist was known as a poison pen, frequently attacking public figures in his articles.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "poison pen":