bad rap
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An undeservedly poor reputation.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Brussels sprouts get a bad rap: many kids hate them before they ever taste them.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bad rap” mean?
An undeservedly poor reputation.
Is “bad rap” formal or informal?
bad rap is generally slang.