Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

take someone's name in vain

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.63 in modern English

Syllables: take -some-one's -name in -vain
IPA

33

Scrabble Score

22

Letters

5

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To speak insultingly about someone, especially behind their back.

Example Sentences

"He never once took her name in vain among the fellows: and she had not been a very good girl, either."
"Hollywood honchos courted her, flattered her, showered her with gifts—and took her name in vain behind her back."
"I took your name in vain, Mr. Mathias , in suggesting that we would have another good ally on the Appropriations Committee to get money for additional assistance down there."
"I'm afeard I took your name in vain, awhile ago , young gentleman; but how could I tell you were hearkening to me ?”"
"All this bother is due to my interfering in matters which do not concern me but concern your W.D. Mrs. F. will make F. squint , I expect! I took your name in vain."

Etymology

By extension from the widely known religious proscription against taking the Lord's name in vain, that is, uttering it in ways that are gratuitous and irreverent, such as swearing oaths casually.

Inflected Forms

takes someone's name in vain (present, singular) taking someone's name in vain (participle, present) took someone's name in vain (past) taken someone's name in vain (participle, past)

Questions

What does take someone's name in vain mean?: To speak insultingly about someone, especially behind their back.
Where does take someone's name in vain come from?: By extension from the widely known religious proscription against taking the Lord's name in vain, that is, uttering it in ways that are gratuitous and irreverent, such as swearing oaths casually.

How to pronounce take someone's name in vain

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