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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Old English bæddel 'male homosexual' |
Related topics:1 unpleasant or likely to cause problems [≠ good]: 
I have some bad news for you.I thought things couldn't possibly get any worse. The plane was delayed for several hours by bad weather. It's difficult to break bad habits. a bad smell
not good
I have some bad news for you.I thought things couldn't possibly get any worse.The plane was delayed for several hours by bad weather.It's difficult to break bad habits.a bad smell2 low in quality or below an acceptable standard [≠ good]: The failure of the company was due to bad management. Your handwriting is so bad I can hardly read it. That was the worst movie I've ever seen.
low quality
The failure of the company was due to bad management.Your handwriting is so bad I can hardly read it.That was the worst movie I've ever seen.3 not sensible, or not suitable in a particular situation [≠ good]: Cutting spending at this time is a bad idea.
not sensible
[usually before noun]Cutting spending at this time is a bad idea.5 doing something you should not do, or behaving in a wrong way - used especially about children or pets [= naughty]: Katie was very bad today!
wrong behaviour
spokenKatie was very bad today! 6 serious or severe : He was in a bad accident. The pain in my side is worse than it was yesterday.
serious
He was in a bad accident.The pain in my side is worse than it was yesterday.7 a time that is not suitable or causes problems : It's a bad time to have to borrow money, with interest rates so high. You've come at the worst possible moment. I have a meeting in five minutes.
a bad time/moment etc
It's a bad time to have to borrow money, with interest rates so high.You've come at the worst possible moment. I have a meeting in five minutes.8 damaging or harmful : Pollution is having a bad effect on fish stocks.
harmful
Pollution is having a bad effect on fish stocks.9 food that is bad is not safe to eat because it has decayed : bad fish
food
DFbad fish10 having no skill or ability in a particular activity They have got to be the worst band on the planet.
no skill
They have got to be the worst band on the planet.11 a heart, leg etc that is injured or does not work correctly : I haven't been able to do much because of my bad back.
bad heart/leg/back etc
I haven't been able to do much because of my bad back.12 bad language is rude or offensive : We were shocked to hear the little boy using bad language in front of his mother. Jacky said a bad word!
language
We were shocked to hear the little boy using bad language in front of his mother.Jacky said a bad word!13 to feel annoyed or angry : The boss is in a bad mood.
be in a bad mood
also be in a bad temper British EnglishThe boss is in a bad mood.15 used to say that something is good, or better than you expected : 'How are you?' 'Oh, not bad.' That's not a bad idea.
not bad
spoken'How are you?' 'Oh, not bad.'That's not a bad idea.16 used to say that something is not as bad as expected : The exams weren't so bad.
not too/so bad
spokenThe exams weren't so bad.17
too bad
spokena) used to say that you do not care that something bad happens to someone : 'I'm going to be late now!' 'Too bad, you should have gotten up earlier.'
'I'm going to be late now!' 'Too bad, you should have gotten up earlier.'b) used to say that you are sorry that something bad has happened to someone : It's too bad that you couldn't come to the party last night.
It's too bad that you couldn't come to the party last night.18 to become even more unpleasant or difficult : The schools have gone from bad to worse in this area.
go from bad to worse
The schools have gone from bad to worse in this area.19 to be very ill, unhappy, or injured, or not in a good condition : She was in a bad way after the funeral.
be in a bad way
informalShe was in a bad way after the funeral.23 to become ill : He was taken bad in the middle of the night.
be taken bad
British English informalMIHe was taken bad in the middle of the night.24 if someone does something in bad faith, they are behaving dishonestly and have no intention of keeping a promise :
in bad faith
25 someone or something that always causes trouble : I'd avoid her if I were you. She's bad news.
bad news
spoken informalI'd avoid her if I were you. She's bad news.26 socially unacceptable behaviour : It's bad form to argue with the umpire.
bad form
British English old-fashionedIt's bad form to argue with the umpire.28 if no one has a bad word to say about a particular person, everyone likes and respects that person
not have a bad word to say about/against somebody
29 used to say that you already have one problem, so that you do not want to worry about or deal with another one : It's bad enough having to bring up three kids on your own without having to worry about money as well!
it's bad enough.....
spokenIt's bad enough having to bring up three kids on your own without having to worry about money as well!30 used to persuade someone that something is good or worth doing : You only pay £10 deposit and no interest: that can't be bad, can it?
something can't be bad
spokenYou only pay £10 deposit and no interest: that can't be bad, can it?31 comparative badder, superlative baddest especially American English spoken informal
a) used when you think something is very good : Now that's a bad car!
Now that's a bad car!b) someone who is bad is very determined and does not always obey rules - used to show approval
—badness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: bad 
WORD FOCUS: bad very bad: awful, terrible, horrible, lousy informal, appalling, ghastly, atrocious, horrendous
bad, but not very bad: not very good, mediocre, second-rate, so-so, lacklustre
of bad quality: shoddy, inferior, poor quality, cheap, crummy informal
bad at doing something: be no good at something
very bad at doing something: hopeless, terrible, useless, lousy informal, incompetent
morally bad: evil, wicked, immoral, corrupt, sick, perverted, degenerate
