a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel

1. proverb It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, a rotten apple spoils the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel, unfortunately.

2. proverb The criminal, unethical, corrupt, or otherwise negative behavior of a single person will spread to other people around them. Ever since that crook took over as CEO, the company has been backsliding into shadier and shadier business arrangements. A rotten apple really does spoil the bushel. A: "Is it any wonder? When corrupt liars take office, suddenly everyone who benefits from them starts to believe—and spread—their lies to maintain the status quo." B: "It's true, then, that a rotten apple spoils the whole bushel."

词组	a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
释义	a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel 1. proverb It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, a rotten apple spoils the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel, unfortunately. 2. proverb The criminal, unethical, corrupt, or otherwise negative behavior of a single person will spread to other people around them. Ever since that crook took over as CEO, the company has been backsliding into shadier and shadier business arrangements. A rotten apple really does spoil the bushel. A: "Is it any wonder? When corrupt liars take office, suddenly everyone who benefits from them starts to believe—and spread—their lies to maintain the status quo." B: "It's true, then, that a rotten apple spoils the whole bushel." See also: apple, bushel, rotten, spoil Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. See also: a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch bushel one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel rotten apple spoils the barrel one bad apple spoils the (whole) bunch one bad apple spoils the (whole) bushel
随便看	only son only the good die young only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches (only) time will tell only to do something only to (do something) only too only too glad, ready, etc. only too pleased only too (something) only too well only way to go on mature consideration on mature reflection on mature reflection/consideration on medication on message on mettle on mind on moral grounds on my life on nerves on neutral ground on neutral ground/territory on neutral territory