handbagging
8 synonyms for handbagging, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (informal) A harsh telling-off or piece of criticism.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Formed from handbag and -ing; it originally referred, by metonymy, to Margaret Thatcher's handbag.
Full origin of handbagging →