Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to-be-in-someone's-bad-books
idiom
/tə bi ɪn ˈsʌmwʌnz bæd bʊks/
Definition
To be in someone’s bad books means to be disapproved of or to be in someone’s bad graces due to a mistake or wrongdoing.
Examples
- After missing her meeting, he found himself in his boss’s bad books.
- She was in her mother’s bad books for not cleaning her room.
- He didn’t want to be in his friend’s bad books, so he made sure to apologize quickly.
Meaning
This phrase is often used when someone feels they have upset or angered a person, typically a friend, family member, or authority figure. It indicates a loss of favor or goodwill.
Synonyms
- out of favor
- in disgrace
- on someone’s wrong side
