# Non-US Dopers: in your language or dialect, how do you describe “talking shit” or “talking smack”?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-in-your-language-or-dialect-how-do-you-describe-talking-shit-or-talking-smack/1020572>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 7, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-in-your-language-or-dialect-how-do-you-describe-talking-shit-or-talking-smack/1020572 "2025-07-07T00:03:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-in-your-language-or-dialect-how-do-you-describe-talking-shit-or-talking-smack/1020572/41 "2025-07-29T16:24:07Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> I’ve never heard that used in this context.

Cursing is the best part of English! The way that these words can have so many different connotations depending on context is just fascinating to me.

Admittedly the only other language I know is Spanish, so maybe other languages do that too.

In which case, I love language.

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**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-in-your-language-or-dialect-how-do-you-describe-talking-shit-or-talking-smack/1020572/42 "2025-07-29T18:19:22Z")

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> [@xtenkfarpl](#):
>
> I’d agree that ‘slagging off’ seems a close UK relative, though that usually means to a third party rather than face to face.

What about “slanging”, as in a “slanging match”? Is that different from (or different to, if you prefer) “slagging”?

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**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-in-your-language-or-dialect-how-do-you-describe-talking-shit-or-talking-smack/1020572/43 "2025-08-06T10:43:45Z")

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There’s a difference and an overlap, I think. A slanging match is (IMO) likely to be louder and probably futile in terms of its effect on either participant (indeed it’s likely to be more annoying to a non-involved by-stander). Slagging (off) on the other hand implies something more underhand.

Here’s a classic slanging match, occasioned (IIRC) by an accusation of slagging:

[https://youtu.be/G\_kcagoTw6U?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/G_kcagoTw6U?feature=shared)

And then there’s “sledging” which is insults designed to put a competitor off their game.

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