Colloquialisms as defamatory statements
<p>Considering a claim, in which the particulars state that words or phrases, often used in a colloquial manner, have caused or may cause financial and/or reputational damage to persons or businesses.</p>

<p>Examples given include:</p>

<ol>
<li>The manager is a parasite</li>
<li>What they have done to the business is criminal</li>
<li>They are raping the community coffers</li>
<li>They are con artists</li>
<li>The company is finished with him at the helm</li>
</ol>

<p>What would be the best way to individually defend the claims against statements such as the above when used in every day context, and given that there is no specific reference to any actual dishonest activity or crime?</p>

<p>This question is concerning the United Kingdom and not the United States, which allows broader latitude under free speech.</p>

<p>In all these examples, adding the qualifier "in my personal opinion" removes virtually any and all defamation exposure.  </p>

<p>Prima facie, given their usual usage and definition, all the statements are defamatory. Best defense is the publication was limited so that damage would be negligible. The statements themselves are pretty indefensible.</p>

united-kingdom libel defamation