give a bad name

English

Verb

give a bad name (third-person singular simple present gives a bad name, present participle giving a bad name, simple past gave a bad name, past participle given a bad name)

1. To cause people to lose respect, reverence or esteem for something or someone.

   The Spanish Inquisition gave all other government inquisitions a bad name, as far as common usage is concerned.

   • 1986, “You Give Love a Bad Name”, in Slippery When Wet, performed by Bon Jovi:

     Shot through the heart and you're to blame / Darling, you give love a bad name

Related terms

• misname (verb)
• misnamed (adj)

 

Translations

to lose respect for something/someone

• French: donner une mauvaise réputation
• Italian: perdere rispetto f, disprezzare (it)
• Norwegian: gi et dårlig rykte
• Swedish: ge ett dåligt rykte