If someone is dragged through the mud, people say bad things about them to ruin their reputation. Why do they get every legal protection, while witnesses are grilled and dragged through the mud? Note: You can also say that someone's name is dragged through the mud. Since her death her name has been dragged through the mud. Note: Words such as mire, dirt or filth are sometimes used instead of mud. The good name of football has been dragged through the dirt in recent years by a series of high-profile court cases.