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!

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.

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.

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.

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.