# in bad odor

idiom

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

## Meaning

Regarded with disapproval; in a situation of being disliked; shunned.

## Examples

- He is in bad odor with his neighbors after the loud party.
- You are in bad odor with the coach for skipping practice again.
- Because she missed three deadlines in a row, she is currently in bad odor with her manager.
- The company is in bad odor with local residents because it continues to dump waste into the river despite several warnings from the city.
- After the scandal broke, the politician found himself in bad odor with the public, and his chances of reelection vanished overnight.

## Origin

The idiom is a secular inversion of the odour of sanctity, a concept originating in the mediaeval period to describe the pleasant fragrance allegedly emitted by the corpses of the particularly holy. While the bodies of the pious were said to smell of lilies or roses rather than decay, those in bad odour were understood to lack this divine aromatic endorsement. The phrase transitioned from a literal olfactory test of spiritual standing to a general metaphor for being held in low esteem.

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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.