give someone a bad name
Meaning(s)
1. damage someone's reputation
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
you're giving me a bad name
Analysis
If you 'give someone a bad name' or 'give something a bad name' it means to spoil or damage its reputation. "Your behaviour last night gave the company a bad name." "I feel that Jennifer is saying things about me that are not true and giving me a bad name." This is an idiomatic expression used in social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Your criticism of me is unfair and it's giving me a bad name.
- The intern's laziness and lack of discipline gave him a bad name among his colleagues.
- If this keeps going on, you're going to give us all a bad name.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Any incompetence or lawbreaking within our industry gives everybody a bad name.
- If you keep delivering work late you are going to get a bad name for yourself in this department.
- I would prefer if anyone has a problem with my work that they address it to me personally rather than criticising me behind my back and giving me a bad name.