bad trip
An acute adverse psychological reaction to the effects produced under the influence of psychoactive substances, namely hallucinogens.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He had a bad trip after taking those drugs.”
“The music festival turned scary when my friend started having a bad trip and needed help.”
“The experience was a terrifying bad trip that left him feeling anxious and disoriented for several days afterward.”
first recorded 20th c.
From bad + trip, first appearing c. 1966 within the pages of the periodical Life.
- 01
bad actor
An individual or entity with a prior criminal conviction, or who has been sanctioned by the court or regulator.
- 02
bad apple
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
- 03
bad books
Disfavor.
- 04
bad business
Synonym of bad news (“irritating, troublesome or harmful thing, situation or person”).
- 05
bad company
The wrong crowd.
- 06
bad egg
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
- 07
bad hair day
A day when things seem to be unmanageable or go wrong.
- 08
bad iron
bad luck.
Last updated August 10, 2026