Talking Trash

What does talking trash mean?

Saying disrespectful things

Talking trash refers to verbally insulting or provoking someone, often in a competitive or confrontational setting. People commonly use it in sports, where players or fans may taunt their opponents to gain a psychological edge or show confidence.

Insults hurled when talking trash may be playful or aggressive and are typically intended to distract, intimidate, or boast. You may also see the phrase appear as "talk trash" or "trash talk."

While "talking trash" is most associated with athletic competition, it can occur in everyday situations, such as arguments, rivalries, or gossip. It shares similarities with other slang expressions like "talking smack" or "throwing shade," which also involve disrespectful or mocking speech. The phrase gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in American sports culture, and has since spread to broader use in media, gaming, and social interactions.

Example

Richard Sherman is garbage, all he is good at is talking trash
U r out of your mind, he's one of the best defensive backs in the game!

Unleashing your secret trash-talking weapon on the opposition

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Updated March 24, 2025

Talking trash definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

This page explains what the slang term "Talking trash" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.

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