go negative

== English == === Verb === go negative (third-person singular simple present goes negative, present participle going negative, simple past went negative, past participle gone negative) (US, politics) To focus on attacking political opponents rather than promoting oneself. 2011, Judith S. Trent, Robert V. Friedenberg, Robert E. Denton (Jr.), Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices (page 235) All four of the principle candidates in the 2008 presidential election “went negative” in their acceptance addresses.