give a bad name en · VERB
Meanings
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To cause people to lose respect, reverence or esteem for something or someone.
Shot through the heart and you're to blame / Darling, you give love a bad name
1986, “You Give Love a Bad Name”, in Slippery When Wet, performed by Bon Jovi:The Spanish Inquisition gave all other government inquisitions a bad name, as far as common usage is concerned.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gave a bad name | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| given a bad name | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| gives a bad name | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| giving a bad name | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
downgrade · give a bad name · depress · cut down to size · trim down to size · bring down to size · demote · dishonour · demean · dishonour · put someone in their place · disgrace · knock down to size · sink · put someone in their place · humble · defame · debase · whittle down to size · discredit · degrade · relegate · humiliate · slur · abase · reduce · disparage · discredit · knock down to size · embase
Translations (5)
no gi et dårlig rykte (to lose respect for something/someone) · it disprezzare (to lose respect for something/someone) · fr donner une mauvaise réputation (to lose respect for something/someone) · sv ge ett dåligt rykte (to lose respect for something/someone) · it perdere rispetto (to lose respect for something/someone)