smear

étaler, barbouiller

Répartir une substance molle ou humide sur une surface en frottant.

En anglais simple : To spread a soft or wet substance across a surface by rubbing it.

• Smear butter on the bread.
• The children smeared paint across the paper.
• Someone had smeared the window with grease.

Comment l'utiliser : smear something on something (She smeared cream on her hands.); smear something with something (He smeared the bread with butter.)

Synonymes : spread, daub

Expressions courantes : smear something on something, smear with something, smear butter

diffamer, calomnier

Raconter des mensonges sur quelqu’un pour que les autres aient une mauvaise opinion de cette personne.

En anglais simple : To tell lies about someone to make other people think badly of them.

• They tried to smear her.
• The newspaper smeared his name with false stories.
• Why are his opponents smearing him online?

Synonymes : defame, slander, malign

Expressions courantes : smear someone, smear someone’s name, smear an opponent

baver, s’étaler

S’étaler involontairement, rendant une trace ou une surface sale ou moins nette.

En anglais simple : To spread accidentally so that a mark or surface becomes messy or unclear.

• The wet ink smeared.
• Her mascara smeared when she cried.
• This paint will smear if you touch it now.

Synonymes : smudge, blur

Expressions courantes : smear easily, smear when wet, smear across something

trace, tache

Trace irrégulière laissée par une substance molle ou humide qui s’étale sur une surface.

En anglais simple : A messy mark left when a soft or wet substance spreads across a surface.

• A greasy smear covered the glass.
• She wiped the smears off the mirror.
• He left a smear of ink on the page.

Comment l'utiliser : a smear of something (There was a smear of chocolate on his cheek.)

Synonymes : smudge, streak

Expressions courantes : a smear of something, greasy smear, lipstick smear

calomnie, diffamation

Propos faux ou non prouvés destinés à donner une mauvaise image de quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : A false or unproven statement meant to make people think badly of someone.

• That claim is a smear.
• He denied the latest political smear.
• The smear campaign damaged her reputation.

Comment l'utiliser : a smear against someone (She dismissed the claim as a smear against her family.)

Synonymes : slander, defamation, calumny

Expressions courantes : smear campaign, political smear, smear against someone