bad taste in one's mouth
A feeling that something is morally despicable as to cause nausea.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The unfair decision left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“The way he treats his assistants leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Lying to your best friend usually leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”
“When the company fired him without warning, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.”
“Watching the neighbors argue about money in front of their young children left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the evening.”
“Although the store offered me a refund, the rude way the manager spoke to me still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“The politician's hollow apology, delivered only after public pressure, left a bad taste in the voters' mouths and damaged his credibility beyond repair.”
The phrase derives from the literal sensation of nausea or the lingering aftereffects of physical illness. It entered the lexicon as a figurative expression by drawing a direct parallel between the physiological discomfort of a foul palate and a sense of moral or aesthetic dissatisfaction.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
acquired taste
Something that is appreciated only after having initially been regarded as unappealing or unpleasant; a person who is regarded as difficult or dislikable but of whom at least some have grown to approve.
- 04
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 05
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 06
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 07
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 08
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
Last updated August 10, 2026