a bad rap
a bad rap
1. A negative or unfavorable reputation. I seem to have gotten a bad rap after coming in late so many times. I don't know why that place has a bad rap—I've never had a bad meal there. I think she got a bad rap after clashing with Jim last year. Personally, I've always found her to be pleasant.
2. A criminal charge that is undeserved. I think Paulie got a bad rap and never actually committed the crimes they're accusing him of. Tommy was sent to jail on a bad rap because of his prior criminal history, but we know he didn't rob that bank—he was with us the day it happened! How many people serving life in prison actually got a bad rap? Probably more than you think.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bad rap
1. n. a false criminal charge. (Underworld. The same as bum rap.) Freddy got stuck with a bad rap.
2. n. unjustified criticism. Butter has been getting sort of a bad rap lately.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.