bad time

a bad time

1. A time that is inconvenient or inopportune. I'm afraid you've called at a bad time. I'm already on my way out the door.
2. A situation that is particularly painful, difficult, or unenjoyable. If you try to do too much after surgery, you're going to have a bad time. We had a really bad time on our date because we simply don't have anything in common.
See also: bad, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bad time

see under have a good time.
See also: bad, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • a bad time
  • be pressed for time
  • be pushed for time
  • away from it all
  • a run on (something)
  • be at a disadvantage
  • a rush on (something)
  • at a disadvantage
  • address (one's) comments to (someone or something)
  • address comments or remarks to
References in classic literature
What are popularly called 'the trembles' being in full force upon him that evening, and likewise what are popularly called 'the horrors,' he had a very bad time of it; which was not made better by his being so remorseful as frequently to moan 'Sixty threepennorths.' This imperfect sentence not being at all intelligible as a confession, but sounding like a Gargantuan order for a dram, brought him into new difficulties by occasioning his parent to pounce at him in a more than usually snappish manner, and to overwhelm him with bitter reproaches.
There was a dentist's sign, among others, which adorned the entrance, and after staring a moment at the pair of artificial jaws which slowly opened and shut to draw attention to a fine set of teeth, the young gentleman put on his coat, took his hat, and went down to post himself in the opposite doorway, saying with a smile and a shiver, "It's like her to come alone, but if she has a bad time she'll need someone to help her home."
But when it came to breaking in, that was a bad time for me; several men came to catch me, and when at last they closed me in at one corner of the field, one caught me by the forelock, another caught me by the nose and held it so tight I could hardly draw my breath; then another took my under jaw in his hard hand and wrenched my mouth open, and so by force they got on the halter and the bar into my mouth; then one dragged me along by the halter, another flogging behind, and this was the first experience I had of men's kindness; it was all force.
"Well, Michael Ivanovich, our Bonaparte will be having a bad time of it.
Yes, shy men, like ugly women, have a bad time of it in this world, to go through which with any comfort needs the hide of a rhinoceros.
You must forgive me if I say how glad I am to see you here, and to know that your bad time is over.
In good time, or in bad time, as the reader likes to take it--for Mrs Nickleby's impatience went a great deal faster than the clocks at that end of the town, and Kate was dressed to the very last hair- pin a full hour and a half before it was at all necessary to begin to think about it--in good time, or in bad time, the toilet was completed; and it being at length the hour agreed upon for starting, the milkman fetched a coach from the nearest stand, and Kate, with many adieux to her mother, and many kind messages to Miss La Creevy, who was to come to tea, seated herself in it, and went away in state, if ever anybody went away in state in a hackney coach yet.
We will say, to put a case and for the sake of illustration, that he had been used, in his bad time, to work at a little forge.
If he could bring her to feel with some solemnity that here was a slander which must be met and not run away from, and that the whole trouble had come out of his desperate want of money, it would be a moment for urging powerfully on her that they should be one in the resolve to do with as little money as possible, so that they might weather the bad time and keep themselves independent.
Those who like to lay down the History-book, and to speculate upon what MIGHT have happened in the world, but for the fatal occurrence of what actually did take place (a most puzzling, amusing, ingenious, and profitable kind of meditation), have no doubt often thought to themselves what a specially bad time Napoleon took to come back from Elba, and to let loose his eagle from Gulf San Juan to Notre Dame.
The ugly women have a bad time of it in this world; let's hope it will be made up to them in another.
So, between the old sinner and the young one the girl has had a pretty bad time."
You see the winter was a very bad time for me, and I really had no money at all to buy bread with.
It would have been a bad time out at sea, and we, as well as others, may call this Good Success Bay.
The bad times are gone now, and the future is looking bright and fair.