English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Treat like dirt
Meaning
The idiom "treat like dirt" means to treat someone with disrespect, contempt, or neglect. It implies that the person is being treated poorly and not given any recognition or consideration.
Usage
- He was so rude to her, it's like he treated her like dirt.
- She always treats me like dirt whenever I ask for something.
- We can't keep treating our employees like dirt and expect them to do their best work.
- It's not fair that she gets treated like dirt just because she's new here.
- He didn't even bother to say goodbye, it's like he treated her like dirt when he broke up with her.
Roots and History
The idiom "treat like dirt" is a figurative expression that has been used in English since at least the 16th century. It originates from the idea of treating someone as if they were nothing more than soil or dirt, which is considered to be lowly and degrading. The phrase has remained largely unchanged over time, but its usage has become more common in contemporary language.
Synonyms in English
- Treat with disrespect
- Disregard someone's feelings
- Neglect someone's needs
- Dismiss someone without consideration
- Ignore someone's presence
Synonyms in other languages
- French: traiter avec insolence (to treat with contempt)
- Spanish: tratar de forma despectuosa (to treat disrespectfully)
- German: behandeln wie Unbedeutend (to treat as insignificant)
- Italian: trattare con disprezzo (to treat with contempt)
- Japanese: 屈辛しい (to treat with disrespect)