bad
♦♦♦ bad /b'æd/ (worse worst)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable.
The bad weather conditions prevented the plane from landing...
We have been going through a bad time...
I've had a bad day at work...
Divorce is bad for children...
Analysts fear the situation is even worse than the leadership admits.
≠ good
2 [ADJ]
You use bad to indicate that something unpleasant or undesirable is severe or great in degree.
He had a bad accident two years ago and had to give up farming...
This was a bad case of dangerous driving...
The pain is often so bad she wants to scream...
The floods are described as the worst in nearly fifty years.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A bad idea, decision, or method is not sensible or not correct.
Economist Jeffrey Faux says a tax cut is a bad idea...
Of course politicians will sometimes make bad decisions...
That's not a bad way to proceed, just somewhat different...
The worst thing you can do is underestimate an opponent.
= poor
≠ good
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you describe a piece of news, an action, or a sign as bad, you mean that it is unlikely to result in benefit or success.
The closure of the project is bad news for her staff...
It was a bad start in my relationship with Warr...
The report couldn't have come at a worse time for the European Commission.
≠ good
5 [ADJ]
Something that is bad is of an unacceptably low standard, quality, or amount.
Many old people in Britain are living in bad housing...
The state schools' main problem is that teachers' pay is so bad...
It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
= poor
≠ good
6 [ADJ] v-link ADJ at -ing/n, ADJ n
Someone who is bad at doing something is not skilful or successful at it.
He had increased Britain's reputation for being bad at languages...
He was a bad driver...
Rose was a poor cook and a worse mother.
= poor
≠ good
7 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that
If you say that it is bad that something happens, you mean it is unacceptable, unfortunate, or wrong.
Not being able to hear doesn't seem as bad as not being able to see...
You need at least ten pounds if you go to the cinema nowadays-it's really bad.
≠ good
8 [ADJ] with neg
You can say that something is not bad to mean that it is quite good or acceptable, especially when you are rather surprised about this.
`How much is he paying you?'--`Oh, five thousand.'--`Not bad.'...
`How are you, mate?'--`Not bad, mate, how's yourself?'...
He's not a bad chap-quite human for an accountant...
That's not a bad idea.
9 [ADJ]
A bad person has morally unacceptable attitudes and behaviour.
I was selling drugs, but I didn't think I was a bad person...
He does not think that his beliefs make him any worse than any other man.
= wicked
≠ good
● badness [N-UNCOUNT]
They only recognise badness when they perceive it in others.
10 [ADJ]
A bad child disobeys rules and instructions or does not behave in a polite and correct way.
You are a bad boy for repeating what I told you...
Many parents find it hard to discourage bad behaviour.
= naughty
11 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you are in a bad mood, you are angry and behave unpleasantly to people.
She is in a bit of a bad mood because she's just given up smoking.
12 [ADJ] feel ADJ, oft ADJ about n, ADJ that
If you feel bad about something, you feel rather sorry or guilty about it.
You don't have to feel bad about relaxing...
I feel bad that he's doing most of the work...
Are you trying to make me feel bad?
≠ good
13 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have a bad back, heart, leg, or eye, it is injured, diseased, or weak.
Alastair has a bad back so we have a hard bed.
14 [ADJ] usu go ADJ, also ADJ n
Food that has gone bad is not suitable to eat because it has started to decay.
They bought so much beef that some went bad.
15 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Bad language is language that contains offensive words such as swear words.
I don't like to hear bad language in the street...
I said a bad word.
16
see also worse, worst
17 [PHRASE] oft it v-link PHR that
If you say that it is too bad that something is the case, you mean you are sorry or sad that it is the case.
It is too bad that Eleanor had to leave so soon...
Too bad he used his intelligence for criminal purposes.
= a pity, a shame
18 [CONVENTION]
If you say `too bad', you are indicating that nothing can be done to change the situation, and that you do not feel sorry or sympathetic about this.
Too bad if you missed the bus.
= hard luck
19
to make the best of a bad job: see best
bad blood: see blood
bad luck: see luck
to get a bad press: see press
to go from bad to worse: see worsebad cheque (bad cheques)
in AM, use bad check
[N-COUNT]
A bad cheque is a bank cheque that will not be paid because there is a mistake on it, or because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote the cheque.bad debt (bad debts)
[N-COUNT]
A bad debt is a sum of money that has been lent but is not likely to be repaid.
The bank set aside £1.1 billion to cover bad debts from business failures.bad guy (bad guys)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
A bad guy is a person in a story or film who is considered to be evil or wicked, or who is fighting on the wrong side. You can also refer to the bad guys in a situation in real life. (INFORMAL)
In the end the `bad guys' are caught and sent to jail.
= baddy
≠ good guybad hair day (bad hair days)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
People sometimes say they are having a bad hair day when they do not feel very happy or relaxed, especially because their hair does not look good. (INFORMAL)
All this fuss is because Carol is having a bad hair day.
1 [ADJ]
Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable.
The bad weather conditions prevented the plane from landing...
We have been going through a bad time...
I've had a bad day at work...
Divorce is bad for children...
Analysts fear the situation is even worse than the leadership admits.
≠ good
2 [ADJ]
You use bad to indicate that something unpleasant or undesirable is severe or great in degree.
He had a bad accident two years ago and had to give up farming...
This was a bad case of dangerous driving...
The pain is often so bad she wants to scream...
The floods are described as the worst in nearly fifty years.
3 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A bad idea, decision, or method is not sensible or not correct.
Economist Jeffrey Faux says a tax cut is a bad idea...
Of course politicians will sometimes make bad decisions...
That's not a bad way to proceed, just somewhat different...
The worst thing you can do is underestimate an opponent.
= poor
≠ good
4 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you describe a piece of news, an action, or a sign as bad, you mean that it is unlikely to result in benefit or success.
The closure of the project is bad news for her staff...
It was a bad start in my relationship with Warr...
The report couldn't have come at a worse time for the European Commission.
≠ good
5 [ADJ]
Something that is bad is of an unacceptably low standard, quality, or amount.
Many old people in Britain are living in bad housing...
The state schools' main problem is that teachers' pay is so bad...
It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
= poor
≠ good
6 [ADJ] v-link ADJ at -ing/n, ADJ n
Someone who is bad at doing something is not skilful or successful at it.
He had increased Britain's reputation for being bad at languages...
He was a bad driver...
Rose was a poor cook and a worse mother.
= poor
≠ good
7 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that
If you say that it is bad that something happens, you mean it is unacceptable, unfortunate, or wrong.
Not being able to hear doesn't seem as bad as not being able to see...
You need at least ten pounds if you go to the cinema nowadays-it's really bad.
≠ good
8 [ADJ] with neg
You can say that something is not bad to mean that it is quite good or acceptable, especially when you are rather surprised about this.
`How much is he paying you?'--`Oh, five thousand.'--`Not bad.'...
`How are you, mate?'--`Not bad, mate, how's yourself?'...
He's not a bad chap-quite human for an accountant...
That's not a bad idea.
9 [ADJ]
A bad person has morally unacceptable attitudes and behaviour.
I was selling drugs, but I didn't think I was a bad person...
He does not think that his beliefs make him any worse than any other man.
= wicked
≠ good
● badness [N-UNCOUNT]
They only recognise badness when they perceive it in others.
10 [ADJ]
A bad child disobeys rules and instructions or does not behave in a polite and correct way.
You are a bad boy for repeating what I told you...
Many parents find it hard to discourage bad behaviour.
= naughty
11 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you are in a bad mood, you are angry and behave unpleasantly to people.
She is in a bit of a bad mood because she's just given up smoking.
12 [ADJ] feel ADJ, oft ADJ about n, ADJ that
If you feel bad about something, you feel rather sorry or guilty about it.
You don't have to feel bad about relaxing...
I feel bad that he's doing most of the work...
Are you trying to make me feel bad?
≠ good
13 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you have a bad back, heart, leg, or eye, it is injured, diseased, or weak.
Alastair has a bad back so we have a hard bed.
14 [ADJ] usu go ADJ, also ADJ n
Food that has gone bad is not suitable to eat because it has started to decay.
They bought so much beef that some went bad.
15 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Bad language is language that contains offensive words such as swear words.
I don't like to hear bad language in the street...
I said a bad word.
16
see also worse, worst
17 [PHRASE] oft it v-link PHR that
If you say that it is too bad that something is the case, you mean you are sorry or sad that it is the case.
It is too bad that Eleanor had to leave so soon...
Too bad he used his intelligence for criminal purposes.
= a pity, a shame
18 [CONVENTION]
If you say `too bad', you are indicating that nothing can be done to change the situation, and that you do not feel sorry or sympathetic about this.
Too bad if you missed the bus.
= hard luck
19
to make the best of a bad job: see best
bad blood: see blood
bad luck: see luck
to get a bad press: see press
to go from bad to worse: see worsebad cheque (bad cheques)
in AM, use bad check
[N-COUNT]
A bad cheque is a bank cheque that will not be paid because there is a mistake on it, or because there is not enough money in the account of the person who wrote the cheque.bad debt (bad debts)
[N-COUNT]
A bad debt is a sum of money that has been lent but is not likely to be repaid.
The bank set aside £1.1 billion to cover bad debts from business failures.bad guy (bad guys)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
A bad guy is a person in a story or film who is considered to be evil or wicked, or who is fighting on the wrong side. You can also refer to the bad guys in a situation in real life. (INFORMAL)
In the end the `bad guys' are caught and sent to jail.
= baddy
≠ good guybad hair day (bad hair days)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
People sometimes say they are having a bad hair day when they do not feel very happy or relaxed, especially because their hair does not look good. (INFORMAL)
All this fuss is because Carol is having a bad hair day.