poison the well
The phrase "poison the well" originates from an ancient practice of contaminating water sources to harm enemies and is now used metaphorically to describe preemptive discrediting tactics.
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Definition
C1Rhetoric
(figurative, informal)To present negative information about someone or something in advance to discredit them and influence others' opinions.
Example
- By spreading rumors about the candidate before the debate, they tried to poison the well.
C1Psychology
(figurative, informal)To create a bias or prejudice against a person or idea before it is fully considered.
Example
- She poisoned the well by telling everyone about his past mistakes before he had a chance to explain himself.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "poison the well":