in a bad light
4
4.8
- idiom
:
de manera desfavorable
- What I am about to tell you may put us in a bad light.
- put in a bad light
But but the movie does not paint Michael Orr in a bad light.
- But but the movie does not paint Michael Orr in a bad light.
- And the same applies to the publishing facts, which would put them in a bad light.
- But even here in the United States, people often paint patriotism in a bad light.
- To paint me in a bad light, to win, to help win over, I mean, for exactly the reason that we're here talking about it.
Examples
-
Moreover, the practice of money lending often cast Jews in a bad light in the eyes of their Christian neighbors.
Blog text (14) -
I don't want this program put in a bad light.
-
But his politics will always cast all of that in a bad light for me.
Blog text (27) -
Others were worried that it showed the Navy in a bad light.
Academic text (2012) -
Who wants to be portrayed in a bad light?
Blog text (14) -
I just don't want anything to come out that might put the union in a bad light.
-
When we don't like them, or are put off by them, we picture them in a bad light.
Blog text (32) -
You have certainly embarrassed all of the citizens of Illinois and cast Christianity in a bad light.
Blog text (19) -
Every one of those questions casts Newt in a bad light one way or the other.
Blog text (29) -
The negative report about the charity made it look in a bad light.
Synonyms
285
1.0
In a way that makes people think less of someone
6
5.3
In a way that shows disapproval
How Favorable
2
3.6
4
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'in' + 'a' + 'bad' + 'light' where 'light' is used metaphorically to mean 'view' or 'appearance', so the overall sense 'to make someone appear unfavorably' is partly derivable from the parts. However, the use of 'light' in this non-literal sense requires a metaphorical mapping that may not be immediately predictable for a B1 learner without some exposure.
Etymology
The phrase in a bad light comes from the image of a person shown under poor light, which makes them look worse. So it now means 'to make someone or something look bad'.