leave a bad taste in (one's) mouth
To give one a negative impression (based on something that has already happened). I don't know, man, the fact that he lied to you just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The way they conducted the interview left a bad taste in my mouth. I don't think I'd accept the job even if they offered it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
leave a bad taste in someone's mouth
[for something] to leave a bad feeling or memory with someone. The whole business about the missing money left a bad taste in his mouth. It was a very nice hotel, but something about it left a bad taste in my mouth.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
leave a bad taste in one's mouth
Make a lingering bad impression on one, as in The argument left a bad taste in my mouth, so after that I avoided talking politics. This expression transfers the bad taste left by consuming bitter or otherwise unpleasant food to a distasteful experience. [Mid-1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
leave a bad taste in your mouth
or leave a bad taste in the mouth
If an experience leaves a bad taste in your mouth or the mouth, you feel that there was something unpleasant about it. Some of the magazine's jokes about women leave a bad taste in the mouth. Note: Adjectives such as nasty, bitter, and sour can be used instead of bad. I'm not staying where I'm not wanted. The whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012