be dragged through the mud

To be disparaged publicly, especially to the detriment of one's reputation. The phrase implies that such treatment is unfair. I tried to maintain a fair and respectable campaign until I was dragged through the mud by my opponent. I refuse to be dragged through the mud when you're the one who messed up the budget! It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud.

be dragged through the mud

If someone is dragged through the mud, people say bad things about them to ruin their reputation. Why do they get every legal protection, while witnesses are grilled and dragged through the mud? Note: You can also say that someone's name is dragged through the mud. Since her death her name has been dragged through the mud. Note: Words such as mire, dirt or filth are sometimes used instead of mud. The good name of football has been dragged through the dirt in recent years by a series of high-profile court cases.