in bad odour

in bad odor

In a state in which one is the subject of another's displeasure or ire. I've been in bad odor with my next door neighbor ever since my dog destroyed her garden. Unless you like being in bad odor with your teachers, you should stop disrupting their classes! You will be in bad odor with the boss if you keep coming into work late.

See also: bad, odor

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in bad odour

OLD-FASHIONED

If someone or something is in bad odour with a person or group, that person or group disapproves of them or is angry with them. Note: `Odour' is spelled `odor' in American English. The government is in bad odour with human rights groups. Malcolm was in bad odour with his father over an embarrassing incident. Note: You can say that someone or something is in good odour with a person or group when that person or group approves of them or thinks they have done something good. The agency has managed to keep out of trouble since he started working there and he is keen to leave while it is still in good odour.

See also: bad, odour

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012