label (someone, something, or oneself) with (something)

label (someone, something, or oneself) with (something)

1. To imprint, inscribe, or attach an identifying or descriptive symbol, word, or name on someone or something. Be sure to label any food you keep in the staff fridge with your name so no one else accidentally eats it.

2. To refer to or identify someone or something with a term intended to designate or categorize them or it in some way, especially a negative one. They labeled him with all manner of slurs because of his stance on the issue.

3. To use a particular implement to imprint or inscribe an identifying symbol, word, or name on someone or something. Even though we all have our own cabinets, he still labels all his food with a black permanent marker. They labeled us with bright neon stamps so the bartenders knew we were old enough to drink.

See also: label

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

label someone or something with something

to mark or identify someone or something with something. They labeled each person who had paid the admission fee with a symbol stamped on the hand. I labeled each book with my name.

See also: label

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.