treat (one) like dirt
treat (one) like dirt
To treat one very poorly or disrespectfully; to treat one as having no value. I'm not surprised that so many of your employees are quitting—you treat them like dirt!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
treat like dirt
Behave badly or show contempt toward, as in Her boss treats all the secretaries like dirt. This idiom uses dirt in the sense of "something worthless," a usage dating from the mid-1300s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
treat someone like dirt
COMMON If someone treats another person like dirt, they treat them very badly. We, the fans, buy the CDs, and pay to go to the concerts, but are more or less treated like dirt. As long as you're thinking about her, she can keep treating you like dirt.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
treat someone like dirt
treat someone contemptuously or unfairly. 1996 Just Seventeen He was only nice to me in private—as soon as he was around other people he'd treat me like dirt.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
treat somebody like ˈdirt
(informal) treat somebody very badly and without respect: He treated his wife like dirt. She finally left him after ten terrible years.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017