What Does "Poison Pen" Mean?
"Poison pen" is an English idiom. It means "a letter or written communication that contains malicious, harmful, or hurtful content, often intended to slander or defame someone."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "poison pen" used in a sentence:- She received a poison-pen letter filled with false accusations and hurtful words, but she chose to ignore it.
- The journalist was known for writing poison-pen articles that targeted public figures without evidence.
- Sending a poison-pen letter is not only hurtful but can also have legal consequences.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Poison Pen" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "poison pen" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?