To commit a preemptive ad hominem attack against an interlocutor. That is, to prime the audience with adverse information about the interlocutor from the start, in an attempt to make your claim more acceptable or discount the credibility of your interlocutor’s claim .
Examples:
- Tim: Boss, you heard my side of the story why I think Bill should be fired and not me. Now, I am sure Bill is going to come to you with some pathetic attempt to weasel out of this lie that he has created.
Synonyms: discrediting, smear tactics, appeal to ethos [form of]