ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bad actor

idiom
Meaning

An individual or entity with a prior criminal conviction, or who has been sanctioned by the court or regulator.


Examples
SIMPLE

The company fired the bad actor for stealing money.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank tightened its security measures to prevent any bad actor from accessing customer accounts.

COMPLEX

Regulators identified the firm as a bad actor after discovering a pattern of fraudulent activity designed to deceive unsuspecting investors.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bad apple

    A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.

  2. 02

    bad books

    Disfavor.

  3. 03

    bad business

    Synonym of bad news (“irritating, troublesome or harmful thing, situation or person”).

  4. 04

    bad company

    The wrong crowd.

  5. 05

    bad egg

    Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.

  6. 06

    bad hair day

    A day when things seem to be unmanageable or go wrong.

  7. 07

    bad iron

    bad luck.

  8. 08

    bad joke

    A situation that is badly planned, or illogical.

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