"Verbal jabs" refers to insults or critical remarks that are spoken or conveyed through words to intentionally hurt or provoke someone. Full definition
Still, the always streamlined and tight Golden Globe Awards were a fun watch as Ricky Gervais was back to take verbal jabs at Mel Gibson, women drivers, NBC and HFPA itself. (rowthree.com)
Host Seth Meyers brought a mixture of levity and earnestness to his opening monologue, in which he took verbal jabs at Woody Allen, Spacey, and Weinstein, whose absence from the ceremony was glaring in the wake of over 70 allegations of sexual misconduct. (theguardian.com)
But the candidates provided their own entertainment, trading verbal jabs for the whole 90 minutes in the midst of some substantial discussion about topics including transit, crime, inequality and immigration. (cityandstateny.com)