campaign Idiom, Proverb

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whispering campaign|campaign|whisper|whispering

n. The spreading of false rumors, or saying bad things, about a person or group, especially in politics or public life. A bad man has started a whispering campaign against the mayor, saying that he isn't honest.

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smear campaign

smear campaign
An attempt to ruin a reputation by slander or vilification, as in This press agent is well known for starting smear campaigns against her clients' major competitors. This phrase was first recorded in 1938 and uses smear in the sense of “an attempt to discredit” or “slander.”

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whispering campaign

whispering campaign
A deliberate spreading of derogatory rumors about a candidate, as in That whispering campaign destroyed his chances for election. [c. 1920]