# bad thing

idiom · CEFR A1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bad-thing
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

An event, action, or situation that is negative or causes problems. People often say 'it's a bad thing when...' to describe something unfortunate.

## Examples

- It is a bad thing to lie to your friends.
- It is a bad thing to forget your passport at the airport.
- Eating too much sugar is a bad thing for your teeth.
- It is a bad thing when you lose your keys right before you need to leave for work.
- Many people believe that heavy rain is a bad thing for a wedding, but it can actually make the photos look very romantic.
- The manager thinks it is a bad thing when employees do not take their lunch breaks because they get too tired.
- While some argue that failure is a bad thing, it often provides the essential experience needed to succeed in the future.

## Origin

The phrase originates from the 1930 historical satire 1066 and All That, written by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman. The authors employed the term to categorise historical events into a binary system of moral convenience, later seeing the expression adopted and further popularised through hacker culture.

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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.