give a bad name to
give a bad name to (someone or something)
To tarnish the reputation of a general class of person or thing (such as an occupation) through one's poor behavior. I can't believe how little you care about your students! Boy, you give a bad name to teachers!
See also: bad, give, name
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
give a bad name to
Also, give someone or something a bad name . Spoil the reputation of, as in Late deliveries are giving the company a bad name. The use of bad name (sometimes put as ill name) dates from about 1400, and the proverb "He that hath a ill name is half hanged" was included in numerous collections from 1546 on.
See also: bad, give, name
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
give a bad name to, to
To speak ill of someone or something in order to give it a bad reputation. This term comes from the proverb, “Give a dog an ill name and hang him,” quoted in James Kelly’s collection of Scottish proverbs (1721). It has been a cliché since about 1800.
See also: bad, give, name
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- give (someone or something) a bad name
- give a bad name to (someone or something)
- besmirch
- besmirch (someone or something) with (something)
- besmirch with
- bring (someone or something) into disrepute
- bring into disrepute
- disrepute
- copybook
- blot (one's) copy book