# bad news

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bad-news
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An irritating, troublesome or harmful object, situation or individual.

## Examples

- That mosquito is bad news.
- I told her that guy was bad news, but she didn't listen.
- The dark clouds gathering on the horizon were bad news for the sailors who had set out that morning with fair weather.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.