speak ill of

López Obrador has been largely unwilling to speak ill of Mexico’s drug lords and their families, saying they “may have been forced to take the wrong path of anti-social activities because of a lack of opportunities” but were deserving of consideration and respect.

You’re not supposed to speak ill of the dead, so I guess I should say something nice about the late Orange County Catholic leader.

You’re not supposed to speak ill of the dead, so that explains the hosannas swirling around for Bishop Tod D. Brown.

Mr. Manchin said he would not speak ill of any sitting member of Congress.

“The tsar has done many bad things. You shouldn’t speak ill of the tsar because you’re still young, but I’m old, and if he arrests me for treason, I won’t live long enough to make it to prison. Ha!”