English / proverb
Give a Dog a Bad Name and Hang Him
MEANING IN ENGLISH
Once a person's reputation is unfairly damaged by slander, it is virtually impossible for them to regain trust or escape condemnation.
In context
01
Gaining perspective reveals the cruelty of workplace gossip: when colleagues give a dog a bad name and hang him, a blameless career is ended.
02
The aging magistrate reminded junior attorneys that society tends to give a dog a bad name and hang him before hearing the whole truth.
Synonyms
slander beyond redemption,ruin by bad reputation,unfairly stigmatize
Antonyms
give the benefit of the doubt,vindicate,exonerate
Collocations
tendency to give a dog a bad name and hang him,unfair practice of give a dog a bad name and hang him,victimized as they give a dog a bad name and hang him